Stay Interviews: A Simple Way to Keep Employees Engaged
February 23, 2026
Most employers are familiar with exit interviews, but by the time those take place, the employee has already decided to leave. Stay interviews offer a better approach by creating intentional conversations with employees before turnover becomes an issue.
A stay interview is a one‑on‑one discussion between a manager and an employee focused on what’s working, what could improve, and what motivates the employee to stay. These conversations are not performance reviews or disciplinary meetings. Instead, they provide insight into employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Why Stay Interviews Matter
Employees often leave because they feel unheard or disconnected, not because of pay alone. Stay interviews help employers:
- Identify concerns early
- Understand what keeps employees motivated
- Strengthen manager‑employee relationships
- Improve retention and morale
Even small adjustments can have a meaningful impact when employees know their input matters.
What Makes a Stay Interview Effective
Stay interviews are most successful when they are:
- Proactive – held regularly, not only after problems arise
- Conversational – focused on listening rather than defending
- Consistent – offered across teams to ensure fairness
- Safe – employees should feel comfortable being honest
Many organizations find success conducting stay interviews once or twice per year.
Sample Questions to Ask
Effective stay interviews often include questions such as:
- What do you enjoy most about your role?
- What would make your job better or more fulfilling?
- Do you feel supported by your manager?
- What tools, training, or support would help you do your job better?
Listening actively and following up when possible is key.
A Simple Step with Big Results
Stay interviews are a low‑cost, high‑impact way to improve engagement and reduce turnover. When employees feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to stay and perform at their best.
If you’d like help implementing stay interviews or creating discussion guides for managers, our HR team is here to help.
You can contact us at HR@pbspay.com. We’d love to hear from you!