Firms of all sizes have at least one thing in common: Recruitment, retention and compensation are among the largest expenses on the balance sheet. But the advantages and disadvantages experienced by small, mid-size and large firms in trying to prevent their best employees from quitting could hardly be more different.

Having worked at firms of every size, I’d like to address the main strengths and weaknesses of each segment of the firm community, as well as ways each can maximize the former and minimize the latter.