Dear HR Managers and Business Owners,

Despite the fact that many companies believe that retention is their top business challenge, many employers underestimate the level of discontent among their staff.

According to salary.com's 2006/2007 Employee Satisfaction and Retention Survey, more than six out of 10 of the employees surveyed said they plan to look for a new job in the next three months, nearly double the proportion that employers believe are looking.

And while lower-paid employees are more likely to look for a new job than higher-paid employees, the survey still found that around half of executives were quietly job hunting as well.

Often it is the most productive staff who are most at risk of leaving - people who have been in their position for between three and 10 years - whose departure would have major hard and soft cost implications.

This month's issue looks at the other side of the hiring equation - keeping them.

Cheers,