“What happens if we invest money to develop our people and they leave?”

A classic business conversation is when the owner or manager (a CEO or a CFO) asks, “What if we train our workers and they leave?” The Human Resources Manager responds, “What if we don’t train them and they stay?”
 
It’s not certain where this sample business conversation originated. “‘What if we train our servers to sell and they leave? What if we don’t and they stay?’ — Brad Huisken” was cited in 1995. “An employer once said, -What if I train my people and they leave.- I say, what if you don’t train them….. and they stay” was cited in 1996.
   
 
Google Books
Turn the Tables on Turnover:
52 Ways to Find, Hire, and Keep the Best Hospitality Employees
By Jim Sullivan, Philip Roberts and Andrea Stewart
Denver, CO: Pencom International
1995
Pg. ?:
“What if we train our servers to sell and they leave? What if we don’t and they stay?” — Brad Huisken
   
Google Groups: alt.sysadmin.recovery
Lusers, lusers everywhere…
Jeff Fisher
9/27/96
(...)
An employer once said, -What if I train my people and they leave.-
I say, what if you don’t train them….. and they stay..
 
Google Books
Feeding the Flock:
Restaurants and Churches You’d Stand in Line for
By Russell Chandler
Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute
1998
Pg. 63:
To paraphrase Sullivan: “But what if you train your workers and they leave?” “What if you don’t—and they stay?”
 
Google Books
Solving the People Puzzle:
Practical Strategies for Optimizing Workforce Performance
By Gary English
Amherst, MA: HRD Press
2001
Pg. 119:
You ask: What if I train my employees and they leave? I answer: What if you don ‘t train them and they stay? — Peter Block
 
Google Books
Deliberate Success:
Realize Your Vision with Purpose, Passion, and Performance
By Eric Allenbaugh
Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press
2002
Pg. 156:
“The question isn’t: ‘What if we train people and they leave?’ The question should be: ‘What if we don’t train people and they stay?’” —Brian Tracy
 
Google Books
Law Practice
ABA, Law Practice Management Section,
Volume 30
2004
Pg. 51:
SIICEY: I’ll respond with the old saying, “What if you train them and they leave? Well, what if you don’t and they stay?”
   
Google Books
Leadership Experiences in Asia:
Insights and Inspirations from 20 Innovators
Edited by Steve J. DeKrey, David M. Messick and Charles A. Anderson
Singapore: John Wiley & Sons (Asia)
2007
Pg. 55:
You sometimes hear people question the wisdom of that investment, particularly in China, where they ask “What if we train them and they leave?” But think of the opposite of that question: “What if we don’t train them and they stay?”
 
Twitter
Kathy Bernhard
‏@KFBLeadership
CFO to CEO, “What if we develop our people and they leave?” CEO: ‘What happens if we don’t, and they stay?” @Lars Blauenfeldt #leadership
11:35 AM - 25 Mar 2011
 
Twitter
Varun
‏@varunverma
CFO: “What if we spend money to develop our people, and later they leave the company?” HR VP “What if we don’t develop them, and they stay?”
2:30 PM - 31 Mar 2011
 
Project Resource (UK)
Corporate Dilemma - Investing In Employees
02 August 2013
Author: Elliot Goulding
“WHAT IF WE TRAIN THEM AND THEY LEAVE?”
“WHAT IF WE DON’T…AND THEY STAY?”
I saw this sketch and thought I would share it.  From a recruiters view point there is only one option, you have to train staff!  Yes, there is a risk that someone may leave after you have invested time, energy and money in developing them but you will regret not having them in the first place.
 
Twitter
Ed Griebel
‏@edgriebel
CFO: “What happens if we invest money to develop our people and they leave?”
CEO: “What happens if we don’t and they stay?”
6:42 AM - 25 Nov 2014
   
Inside Higher Ed
Rabbits, Ducks, and Professional Development
February 22, 2015 - 10:00pm
By Matt Reed
(...)
There’s an old joke about the HR director who asks the CEO “what if we develop our people, and they leave?” The CEO responds “what if we don’t, and they stay?”