Part of the HR templates hub. It is free, printable and placeholder-based — read it here, copy the block, or use the print/save-as-PDF button. For the wider practice, see the related employer-operations guides and the HR metrics it supports.
Template overview
The template provides open, non-leading questions about what the person values, what frustrates them, and what would strengthen their reasons to stay, plus space for themes and follow-up. It feeds directly into the retention plan.
When to use it
- Proactively checking in with valued employees.
- Understanding retention drivers before people leave.
- Gathering input for a retention plan.
Who it is for
- Managers having honest retention conversations.
- HR running stay-interview programmes.
- Leaders protecting key capability.
Template structure
- Context — a brief, honest framing.
- What’s working — what they value.
- What’s not — frustrations and friction.
- What would help — what would strengthen staying.
- Themes and follow-up.
Printable template
Copy the block below and replace every [bracketed] placeholder. It contains no real names or data — adapt every part to your situation.
Example (placeholder version)
An illustrative version using placeholders only — it shows the kind of content each part holds, with no real employee or company data.
Customisation guidance
- Keep questions open and non-leading.
- Make it a safe, honest conversation, not a survey.
- Capture themes and act on them — silence after a stay interview backfires.
- Avoid recording salary or sensitive personal details.
Common mistakes
- Leading questions that fish for the answer you want.
- Holding stay interviews but never acting on them.
- Only doing them once someone has already half-left.
- Treating it as a tick-box rather than a real conversation.
Export, edit and share documents
Once you have filled in this template, you can export, edit, sign, store and share it as a PDF with the HELPERG PDF Editor — handy for sending a finished document or keeping a clean record.
Free, printable HR resources
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