House Democrats are having a harder time retaining staff than Republicans are.
Compared to Republicans, House Democrats averaged 11% higher staff turnover in the first half of 2022, according to LegiStorm data.
LegiStorm's staff turnover index is salary-weighted, meaning that the departure of a higher-paid staffer, such as a chief of staff, will count proportionately more than staff assistant or other lower-paid staffer. LegiStorm considers only full-time, non-temporary staff and excludes all interns and fellows.
Including representatives leaving Congress at the end of the term, Democrats made up six of the top 10 member offices with the highest turnover rates. But the worst staff retention so far the year belongs to Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz (Ind.), whose alleged mistreatment of staff earned a Politico piece a few months ago.
Other top spots for representatives not leaving office go to Reps. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.). Retiring members are expected to have high turnover.
High turnover doesn't necessarily indicate that an individual member is difficult to work for. But over time, consistently poor staff retention can result in lower productivity and effectiveness and may indicate a workplace that staffers wish to avoid.
The 2022 MRA increase was intended to help the House attract and retain staffers. Its effect on staff turnover will become clearer once the House publishes its final 2022 salary data in late February of next year.
