Due to the significant changes brought about by the pandemic, there has been an unexpected shift in the workplace that has everyone scratching their heads. Following a year marked by layoffs, economic instability, and record-high unemployment, a dramatic change has occurred that no one could have predicted: people are quitting their jobs.
According to the Labor Department, 4 million workers quit their jobs in April of this year, putting job openings at a 20-year high. The worst part is that no one wants to fill these positions! We’re uncharted ground, known as “The Great Resignation.” Here’s what’s going on and why:
It’s safe to say that the year 2020 was chaotic. Individuals worldwide were concerned about their financial security, health, and future. 2020 was a period where people genuinely started evaluating where they were and where they desired to go. The flexibility afforded by remote schedules and paid unemployment proved vital to this.
The problem is that once things began to reopen and we started retaining some “normalcy,” employers expected employees to hop back on the 9-5 bandwagon, resuming up where they left off before the world seemed to close its doors again. Employees felt empowered and planned out things they had no idea wouldn’t go their way.
Employees now had the opportunity to contemplate because they were no longer bothered by the daily office grind or commute. Some people loved working from home so much that they vowed never to return to the office. Others arrived at the realization that they despised their current job and should switch to one that excites them.
Can you blame them, though? A year of a very worrying, exhausting, and anxiety-inducing period calls for re-examining all life choices, especially when it comes to working. This new season marks a new beginning. People are unwilling to pick up from where they left off. They are now not afraid to quit their monotonous lifestyle for something that genuinely ignites them.
Employees’ new willingness to leave jobs they are unhappy with should make employers think of ways to retain their staff members successfully.
What can you do as an employer to encourage employees to return to work?
Be Flexible
Why not allow employees to work from home if they are capable of doing so? Most staff is open to working in a hybrid schedule, coming in one or two days per week. Some employees are even willing to do more if they receive adequate compensation. It’s important to remember that happy employees are more productive.
Review Your Compensation and Benefits
Employees aren’t constantly asking for an increment (though it’s always lovely to grant them one occasionally!). Other benefits include additional paid time off, a remote or hybrid work schedule, paid volunteer time off, and paid parental leave.
Examine Your Company’s Culture
Employees want to feel they’re part of a company that cares about them, the community, and the rest of the world. Analyze the culture you’ve established to develop a more equal, varied, and inclusive environment.
As an employee, if you are going to join the masses and quit your job, consider this:
Be sure about the steps you’re going to take. List your negotiables and non-negotiables to explore positions that correspond with your goals. Scratch any that don’t fit your requirements.
Market your hard and soft skills if you switch to a new industry. Hard skills reflect your technical abilities (such as electrical engineering, computer programming, or accounting). In contrast, soft skills include skills you can utilize regardless of the nature of the job (i.e., customer service, communication, project management, etc.).
Be on an aggressive lookout for a new job. Though many jobs exist, understand that the competition will be fierce. Millions of other people are putting all their efforts into getting the same appealing job roles as you. So, be thorough in your search.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile and resume are up to date. If you fail to do so, recruiters and hiring managers will overlook you, even if you are highly qualified for the position. Maintaining your resume entails writing a résumé compatible with the applicant tracking system and peppering it with industry-specific keywords.
Network online or in real-time. Whether in person, in the grocery store, over LinkedIn, or at a friend’s birthday party- advertise yourself everywhere! Make as many connections as possible with relevant people and tell them you’re looking for a new job.
Learn how to negotiate. It would be excellent if you learned how to properly deal with the terms of your employment by speaking out for what you want. Negotiation skills can make or break the next stage of your career, determining whether your next job is a nightmare or a dream.
Where Do We Go From Here?
People pursuing their passions and seeking improved working conditions benefit employees and employers. Individuals putting forth these demands are also justified, given that wages have been flat for an extended time.
Employees may be in a crisis if they can’t find suitable jobs and have exhausted their money. Forcing them to work at a place that is perhaps worse than the one they quit. Thus, it’s best to take a balanced approach and not make rash decisions.
If you’re an employer, remember that people want to work under different and better circumstances. Andy Warhol has aptly said, “They always say time changes things, but you have to change them yourself.” Now is the time.
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