---
title: Why Exit Interviews Are Worth It
description: Exit interviews can provide valuable insights into your business that can help you to improve working conditions for current employees and reduce turnover.
image: https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/A%20business%20woman%20with%20a%20potential%20employee%20asks%20questions.jpeg
---

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# Why Exit Interviews Are Worth It

 By [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) on [May 01, 2019](https://blog.axcethr.com/why-exit-interviews-are-worth-it)   
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Employers know turnover is bad for business, but they may not realize the extent of the problem. According to [Employee Benefit News](https://www.benefitnews.com/), companies spend 33 percent of a departing employee’s annual salary to hire a replacement. That same figure – 33 percent – represents the proportion of workers who said they quit their jobs within the first 90 days of employment, says a 2018 survey by recruiting firm jobvite.com.

Even when employees stay longer, they often leave their positions in fewer than five years. The [2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Tenure Report](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm) noted that the median tenures of workers ages 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 were 2.8 years and 4.9 years, respectively.

When employee resignations occur, as they inevitably do, exit interviews are a valuable learning opportunity for employers. They allow you to glean the departing employee’s candid, first-hand insights into workplace culture and conditions.

<https://blog.axcethr.com/know-before-they-go-how-to-ease-the-pain-of-employee-departures>[When an employee resigns or is terminated morale, productivity and sometimes even your company culture can be affected.](https://blog.axcethr.com/know-before-they-go-how-to-ease-the-pain-of-employee-departures)[Find out how to effectively handle employee turnover in this blog post >>](https://blog.axcethr.com/know-before-they-go-how-to-ease-the-pain-of-employee-departures)

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## Importance of Exit Interviews

The information you gain during exit interviews can help you make positive changes in your organization and more effectively retain the employees who are still there. Departing employees can help you identify areas that need improvement, including management styles, morale, company strategy, marketing, operations, systems and the structure of their divisions.

You may want to use the feedback employees share during exit interviews to build better teams and boost morale by establishing:

- Better professional development and advancement opportunities
- Manager training programs
- Corporate culture enhancements
- Benefits compliance corrective measures
- More competitive compensation structures
- Job descriptions that more accurately depict responsibilities

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/4fa140d8-64bc-4c77-b2c9-2676d4876826.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/4fa140d8-64bc-4c77-b2c9-2676d4876826)

## Exit Interviews Best Practices

Exit interviews are most productive when they take place in person, but video chats, telephone calls and questionnaires are better than no exit interview at all. Just be sure to ask questions that help you understand why the employee is leaving and uncover opportunities for workplace or operational improvements.

Keep these exit interview tips in mind to maximize their value:

- ### Who Interviews
  
   An HR liaison, company executive or someone other than the interviewee’s immediate supervisor should conduct exit interviews, so departing employees will be more likely to openly share relevant information about their managers or departments. The exit interview shouldn’t be a gossip or blaming session, but it is a chance for you to identify problem areas. It’s equally a chance to learn about employees who are going above and beyond and could use your appreciation and acknowledgment.
- ### Employee Confidentiality
  
   Employees should be assured everything they say will remain as confidential and anonymous as possible. This, too, will make them more comfortable about freely sharing their opinions and feelings.
- ### Open-Ended Questions
  
   Interviewers should listen more than they talk, ask open-ended questions and stay positive. For example, they should request specific suggestions that would make the company a better place to work, rather than framing the issue negatively by asking what the departing employee did not like about his or her job.
- ### Be Thankful
  
   The interviewer should thank the employee for agreeing to talk honestly and explain that the exit interview’s purpose is to gain information that will help the company improve working conditions.

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Given workers’ short tenures and the increasing costs associated with hiring new employees, employee retention is more important than ever. Getting candid answers to key questions from resigning workers can help you improve career development and recruiting practices, strengthen company culture and expose other issues that may be affecting your ability to retain team members.  For assistance, [contact Axcet HR Solutions](https://www.axcethr.com/schedule-consultation/).

Our HR experts are here to help with terminations, layoffs and [unemployment claims management](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/unemployment-claims-management/).[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/7e16d9f2-75c0-482f-ae6d-407aba0aa50a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/7e16d9f2-75c0-482f-ae6d-407aba0aa50a)

[![Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jeanette-04.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=Jeanette-04.jpg)](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

Written by

#### [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Director of Human Resources at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has contributed her expertise for over 21 years.

As a leader in the HR industry, she holds advanced certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Jeanette oversees HR strategy and operations, ensuring Axcet delivers exceptional HR services that help small and mid-sized businesses stay compliant and grow.

With a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University, Jeanette is well-equipped to lead and support clients in navigating complex HR challenges.

Throughout her 15-year tenure as Director of Human Resources, she has been instrumental in positioning Axcet as the Midwest’s largest and premier Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Her previous roles at Axcet include Director of Employee Benefits and Senior HR Consultant, where she gained extensive experience in HR outsourcing, and employee risk management.

Jeanette’s expertise has been recognized through industry and regional publications. She co-authored the article “High-Touch in the Age of High-Tech: How PEOs Can Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity” (https://peoinsider.org/articles/high-touch-in-the-age-of-high-tech-how-peos-can-embrace-ai-without-losing-their-humanity/) for PEO Insider (March 2026), alongside Jo McClure, and was featured in Ingram’s Magazine in a Q&A (https://ingrams.com/article/qa-with-jeanette-coleman/) discussing generational change, technology, and workplace culture. These contributions reflect her perspective on balancing innovation with the human side of HR.

Jeanette’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to helping businesses thrive through strategic, compliance-driven HR solutions. Through her writing, she shares insights on HR strategy, compliance, and best practices to help employers confidently manage their workforce.

 Published in: PEO Insider and Ingram's

Read more

<https://www.axcethr.com> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-coleman-sphr-shrm-scp-a40a537/> [View all posts →](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

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  "articleBody" : "Employers know turnover is bad for business, but they may not realize the extent of the problem. According to Employee Benefit News, companies spend 33 percent of a departing employee’s annual salary to hire a replacement. That same figure – 33 percent – represents the proportion of workers who said they quit their jobs within the first 90 days of employment, says a 2018 survey by recruiting firm jobvite.com. Even when employees stay longer, they often leave their positions in fewer than five years. The 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Tenure Report noted that the median tenures of workers ages 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 were 2.8 years and 4.9 years, respectively. When employee resignations occur, as they inevitably do, exit interviews are a valuable learning opportunity for employers. They allow you to glean the departing employee’s candid, first-hand insights into workplace culture and conditions. When an employee resigns or is terminated morale, productivity and sometimes even your company culture can be affected. Find out how to effectively handle employee turnover in this blog post &gt;&gt; Importance of Exit Interviews The information you gain during exit interviews can help you make positive changes in your organization and more effectively retain the employees who are still there. Departing employees can help you identify areas that need improvement, including management styles, morale, company strategy, marketing, operations, systems and the structure of their divisions. You may want to use the feedback employees share during exit interviews to build better teams and boost morale by establishing: Better professional development and advancement opportunities Manager training programs Corporate culture enhancements Benefits compliance corrective measures More competitive compensation structures Job descriptions that more accurately depict responsibilities Exit Interviews Best Practices Exit interviews are most productive when they take place in person, but video chats, telephone calls and questionnaires are better than no exit interview at all. Just be sure to ask questions that help you understand why the employee is leaving and uncover opportunities for workplace or operational improvements. Keep these exit interview tips in mind to maximize their value: Who Interviews An HR liaison, company executive or someone other than the interviewee’s immediate supervisor should conduct exit interviews, so departing employees will be more likely to openly share relevant information about their managers or departments. The exit interview shouldn’t be a gossip or blaming session, but it is a chance for you to identify problem areas. It’s equally a chance to learn about employees who are going above and beyond and could use your appreciation and acknowledgment. Employee Confidentiality Employees should be assured everything they say will remain as confidential and anonymous as possible. This, too, will make them more comfortable about freely sharing their opinions and feelings. Open-Ended Questions Interviewers should listen more than they talk, ask open-ended questions and stay positive. For example, they should request specific suggestions that would make the company a better place to work, rather than framing the issue negatively by asking what the departing employee did not like about his or her job. Be Thankful The interviewer should thank the employee for agreeing to talk honestly and explain that the exit interview’s purpose is to gain information that will help the company improve working conditions. Given workers’ short tenures and the increasing costs associated with hiring new employees, employee retention is more important than ever. Getting candid answers to key questions from resigning workers can help you improve career development and recruiting practices, strengthen company culture and expose other issues that may be affecting your ability to retain team members. For assistance, contact Axcet HR Solutions. Our HR experts are here to help with terminations, layoffs and unemployment claims management.",
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  "dateCreated" : "2019-05-01",
  "dateModified" : "2025-04-25",
  "datePublished" : "2019-05-01",
  "description" : "Employers know turnover is bad for business, but they may not realize the extent of the problem. According to Employee Benefit News, companies spend 33 percent of a departing employee’s annual salary to hire a replacement. That same figure – 33 percent – represents the proportion of workers who said they quit their jobs within the first ...",
  "editor" : "Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP",
  "genre" : "Human Resources and Employee Management",
  "headline" : "Why Exit Interviews Are Worth It",
  "image" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2652187/Stock%20images/A%20business%20woman%20with%20a%20potential%20employee%20asks%20questions.jpeg",
  "keywords" : "Human Resources, Interviews, human resource management, professional employer organization, employee turnover, how to handle employee turnover, exit interview with employee, are exit interviews valuable, exit interview questions, exit interviews best practices, are exit interviews worth it, exit interviews, exit interview tips, are exit interviews confidential, are exit interviews required, Employee Relations",
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