Which of the following is the most immediate challenge an organization faces as a result...

The HRPA Professional Competency Framework expects HR to track and interpret workforce metrics (including turnover) for operational impact. High, unplanned turnover creates immediate capacity gaps—vacant roles, onboarding lags, and rework—that directly and immediately reduce output, service levels, and cycle times, i.e., decreased productivity.

While reduced morale (A), disrupted team dynamics (B), and loss of institutional knowledge (C) are real and often significant consequences, they typically materialize and compound over time. The first and most immediate operational impact HR should flag and mitigate in workforce planning is the drop in productivity stemming from coverage gaps and decreased efficiency.

References (HRPA):

Professional Competency Framework: Workforce Planning and Talent Management (analyzing turnover and capacity; mitigating operational risk from staffing gaps).

HRPA Study Guide: Turnover metrics, vacancy impacts, and productivity implications in workforce planning.