Giving Notice: Why the Best and the Brightest Leave the Workplace and How You Can Help Them Stay

4.5. Corporate Costs: Turnover

After Eric decided to quit the firm, he gave himself three months to wrap things up and try to look for something new. His company began paying the price for the unwelcoming environment he was subjected to long before he submitted his letter of resignation. His loss of commitment to the firm and wavering productivity affected his division's financial performance. He no longer bothered to share his innovative ideas, which weakened the company's competitive edge. He mentally checked out of his job. He marked the date he would submit his resignation on his calendar in red ink: March 21.

From that day forward, he was committed to doing only the minimal requirements for the job, while devoting the lion's share of his ...