Turnover isn't a staffing issue. It's a business risk

Jun 11th, 2026 | Workplace Insights

Here's a number worth sitting with: voluntary turnover in life sciences hit 18–22% in key technical functions, and it hasn't fully recovered.

For a 100-person biotech, that's 20+ people walking out every year. Each one carries institutional knowledge, client relationships, and in some cases, regulatory history that can take years to reconstruct.

The real cost isn't just the open headcount. It's the:
- Delayed trials when a Clinical lead exits mid-study
- Regulatory setbacks when institutional memory walks out the door
- Cost-per-hire that balloons to $28,000–$45,000 for director-level replacements

At TOC, we help Life Sciences companies get ahead of turnover, not just react to it. From identifying flight risks through HR consulting to building retention programs that actually work, we partner with you before the exit interview.

Let's talk retention strategy.