Turnover

I've never understood why the costs associated job turnover which are almost inevitably associated with low wage jobs are basically ignored. It isn't an immutable fact that x% of your employees will need to be replaced every month. x will depend on pay and little things like how you treat them. Random scheduling probably doesn't help. Also, too, there are probably not as many employee five finger discounts if you treat them a bit better.

My guess is that payroll is an easy number to count, while costs of hiring/turnover are more diffuse and not as clearly quantifiable. The bean counters can easily count the former, and it's much more difficult to count the latter. But, ZOMG, maybe there is something to paying people more...

"Our job applications are going up and we are seeing some relief in turnover," Wal-Mart's chief executive, Doug McMillon, told a media briefing after the company's annual shareholders' meeting on Friday.

He did not provide details, and Wal-Mart does not disclose figures on turnover.