This qualitative exploratory case study explored employee turnover during a leadership change. The qualitative exploratory case study design allowed participants’ to speak freely about their experiences during a leadership change. The purpose of this study was to examine leadership style influence on employee retention during a change in leadership. The study focused on both Transformational and Transactional leadership characteristics to provide the reader with optimal characteristics to include in their leadership style during a leadership change. Six themes emerged from this qualitative exploratory case study: (a) communication preference, (b) management’s communication to employees, (c) emotional intelligence, (d) leader characteristics, and (e and f) resignation or perseverance during a leadership change. The themes offer the reader insight into an employee’s journey during a leadership change. The conclusion section summarizes the importance of two way communication between management and employees to retain employees during a leadership change. The implications section reviewed management and employee perspectives during a leadership change. The implications included management concerns about operations and employee concerns about the impact of the change to them personally. The implications support the need to communicate throughout a leadership change to retain employees.