The Retention Challenge: Why Employees Stay Unhappy & How Businesses Can Respond

In honour of International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, "Accelerate Action," we’re excited to release this special podcast episode, led by senior HR consultants Hannah Weeden and Kayleigh Giles, alongside our associate director, Jake Lewis.

As businesses navigate the evolving job market, it’s time to accelerate action in workforce planning—rethinking how we retain employees, support career growth, and hire for the future.

In this episode, we explore two key trends affecting businesses today:

• The rise of "Grumps Day"—where employees stay in roles despite being unhappy.
• The shift away from formal qualifications as businesses prioritise experience over education.

With employee relations cases at an all-time high and businesses struggling to attract top talent, HR and leadership teams must take decisive steps to create workplaces that keep employees engaged, motivated, and thriving.

🎧 Listen to the full episode at the top of this page.

Accelerating Action on Employee Retention

Employee retention is often seen as a success metric, but when employees feel stuck in roles they no longer enjoy, it can have damaging consequences for businesses. This growing issue, known as “Grumps Day,” highlights the urgent need for companies to take action to foster a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Rather than benefiting from a stable workforce, companies are now dealing with demotivated, frustrated employees who feel unable to move on. HR teams are seeing a surge in grievances, mental health concerns, and even rising hiring costs due to ineffective retention strategies.

To truly accelerate action in improving retention, businesses must:

✔ Encourage open, transparent career conversations to ensure employees feel valued and heard.
✔ Recognise disengagement early and create proactive solutions to improve motivation.
✔ Invest in upskilling and career progression opportunities to keep employees engaged.

Accelerating Action on Inclusive Hiring

Another major shift we explore in this episode is the declining emphasis on formal qualifications. Employers are now prioritizing real-world experience and adaptability over education credentials, creating greater opportunities for candidates from diverse backgrounds to step into leadership roles.

As businesses look to accelerate action in building more inclusive hiring strategies, key steps include:

✔ Expanding talent pools beyond traditional degree pathways to create a more diverse and skilled workforce.
✔ Providing structured career progression routes for employees who have built experience outside of education.
✔ Embracing apprenticeship programs and on-the-job learning to empower future leaders.

This shift is not just about filling roles—it’s about creating workplaces where individuals, regardless of background, have equal access to career progression and leadership opportunities.

🎧 Join us for part one of this insightful discussion—listen to the full episode at the top of this page.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, this discussion—led by our senior HR consultants and associate director—highlights the importance of accelerating action in how we approach retention, hiring, and career development. Stay tuned for part two, where we dive deeper into how businesses can take a more strategic approach to attracting and keeping top talent.