HealthJuly 7, 2026
attrition
/əˈtrɪʃən/
Definition
The steady, gradual reduction in the number of workers in a field or organization caused by people resigning, retiring, or leaving their roles due to negative job conditions.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'attritionem,' meaning 'a rubbing against or friction.' It evolved from the physical concept of wearing something down through friction to the modern sense of wearing down an opponent or workforce over time.
In the news
In the article, the author links physician burnout and the heavy burden of electronic health records to the high rate of staff attrition, noting that current working conditions drive clinicians to leave the profession entirely.
Medicine thinks Gen Z is too soft. It’s wrong
Read the full article ↗STAT