Turnover and Absence Cost Pack

See what turnover and absence cost your business. Calculate the cost of a departure using your own numbers, absence and its coverage costs, open vacancies, and the potential savings from better retention.

Four cost tools in one workbook

Eight tabs in one Excel file. Start Here explains the order to follow. Four tools calculate turnover, absence, vacancy, and retention savings. Benchmarks provides reference ranges, Summary brings the results onto one page, and Notes records your assumptions and why you chose them.

• Cost of Turnover Calculator. Set the pay basis once, then enter costs for separation, the vacancy while the role is open, recruiting the replacement, and onboarding and ramp. See the total cost of one departure, with subtotals and the result as a percentage of annual salary.
• Absence Cost. Set the benefits load and coverage multiplier, then enter each department's headcount, pay, and absence days. The tool calculates direct costs, fully loaded costs including coverage, and potential savings from reducing absence by one or two days per employee.
• Vacancy Cost Calculator. Enter headcount, turnover rate, time to fill, and pay. The tool calculates the annual cost of open roles, cost per vacancy, and the estimated number of roles open at one time.
• Retention Savings. Set a target turnover rate below your current rate. The tool calculates cost per departure, departures avoided, annual savings, and the value of each percentage point of turnover.
• Benchmarks. Compare your results with public ranges for turnover costs by role, turnover rates by sector, time to fill, vacancy costs, and absence. Each section identifies its source.
• Summary. See cost per departure, total absence cost, vacancy cost, and retention savings on one page. All four figures update from the tools.

Calculate the costs behind turnover and absence

Each tool covers a different cost. The Summary updates as you enter your figures.

• Establish the pay basis. On Cost of Turnover, enter the salary of the role that left, the manager, coworker, and HR salaries, along with working days per year. Do this before entering departure costs so every stage uses the same pay assumptions.
• Use your records. Gather last year's departures, absence days by department from your HRIS, and average time to fill. Enter those figures in the relevant tabs and use Benchmarks to compare your results with public ranges.
• Set the coverage multiplier. This is the one input that calls for judgment. Use a lower multiplier when colleagues absorb the work and a higher one when paid coverage or overtime fills the gap. Record your choice on the Notes tab.
• Model a retention target. On Retention Savings, enter a turnover rate you would invest in reaching. Use the Summary to discuss potential savings during budget planning.

Show how the costs were calculated

The workbook shows the assumptions behind each calculation and identifies the sources for its benchmark ranges.

• Editable cost assumptions. Adjust the pay basis, benefits load, coverage multiplier, turnover rate, and target rate directly in the workbook.
• Benchmark ranges. Find cost-of-turnover ranges that cite Gallup and CAP, sector turnover rates that cite Mercer, time-to-fill figures from SHRM, and absence figures from the CDC Foundation and BLS, alongside labeled planning assumptions. Each section notes its source.
• Worked examples. Every tool opens with realistic roles and departments to show how the calculations work.
• A visible coverage estimate. You set the coverage multiplier yourself, and the workbook identifies it as an estimate of lost coverage.

Who it is built for

Built for

• An operator or finance partner evaluating the financial impact of turnover and absence.
• A lean HR team building the business case for a retention or attendance program.
• A consultant or fractional HR lead quantifying the cost of churn for a client.

If you are looking for

• Workforce Planning Pack. Plan FTE and headcount, shift coverage, overtime versus hiring, and labor burden.
• RIF and Restructuring Savings Planner. Calculate severance, the full one-time cost, and the payback period for a reduction.

Before you buy

What format is it and can I edit it?

One Excel workbook, eight tabs. The download contains five files: the workbook, a Start Here, the one-page Quick Reference, the product license, and a short guide to using it in Google Sheets. The workbook works in Excel or Google Sheets, and you can edit every amber input cell.

What does this include beyond a free turnover calculator?

This pack covers four related costs: the full cost of turnover across separation, vacancy, recruiting, and ramp; absence including coverage costs; the ongoing cost of open roles; and potential savings from reaching a target turnover rate. Sourced benchmarks provide context, and a one-page summary brings the results together.

What numbers go into the cost calculations?

You enter the pay basis, benefits load, coverage multiplier, turnover rate, and time to fill. Each tool calculates from those figures. Every tool opens with its own worked example, so sample numbers differ between tabs. As you enter your figures, the Summary updates. Benchmarks shows public ranges alongside the results for comparison.

Is it a subscription?

No. One-time purchase, instant download, no recurring fee.

Can I check the rates it uses?

The Benchmarks tab lists the source for each section. You can check the sources and enter your own numbers.

What is the refund policy?

Digital products are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. To request a refund, email support@truestephr.com or reply to your receipt within 30 days of purchase.

What happens after I buy?

Your download link appears immediately after checkout. Your receipt arrives by email with the same link. Open the Start Here tab first for the recommended order. For setup questions, email support@truestephr.com.

How the download works

Your files arrive as a single ZIP download, best opened on a computer. Save it, extract it (right-click and select Extract All on Windows, or double-click on a Mac), then open the Start Here file first. PDFs open in any reader, and editable files work in Microsoft Excel or free equivalents, including LibreOffice and Google Sheets. No other software is needed. Step-by-step help for every device is at truestephr.com/pages/download-help.

Scope

This planning and analysis model produces estimates based entirely on the inputs and assumptions you enter. Use those estimates to support decisions, rather than as accounting, tax, or legal conclusions. Check the assumptions against your own data. Have qualified counsel review decisions involving pay, headcount, or separation against applicable law before acting. General information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.