Celebrating Labor Day Amidst the Great Resignation
Celebrating Labor Day Amidst the Great Resignation. Photo Credit: Annie Spratt
This year, we celebrate Labor Day in the midst of what has been termed by Anthony Klotz The Great Resignation.
Per the US Department of Labor, 11.5 million people have quit their jobs as of June, and 41% are considering quitting. A study by Gallup found that 48% of people are actively searching for new opportunities.
If it is currently a seller's market in real estate, it seems to be an employee's market in the workforce.
The articles site stress, burnout, bad managers, and even narcissistic colleagues as some of the reasons for the departures, along with more existential reasons that we uncovered while being forced to redesign parts of our lives over the course of the past 18 months.
In my own sphere, here are a few of the trends that I'm noticing.
Many people are mentally and emotionally fried.
The impact of living in a state of fight or flight for the last year and a half is catching up with people. Mental health is at an all-time low and the collective reserves of patience, empathy, and room for nuance are depleted. Things that previously weren't a big deal now feel like a very big deal. There is little gas left in the tank, and many people are white knuckling just getting through the day. In some cases, there is a feeling of rage and despair underneath the surface or behind the screen. In some cases, it has everything to do with work. But in others, it is the product of the past 18 months of life and attempting to function as a human in this world, and is being channeled in the form of work-related frustrations.
The advice from authorities “not to talk to our neighbors” is having a damaging impact.
People seem more suspicious of each other than they did in the past. There is less assumption of positive intent than there once was. Slip-ups from managers or executives that are honest mistakes are in some cases seen as intentional actions that are rooted in ill-intent.
The definition of what is “worth it” is shifting.
The commute across town, going into the office, and even the generous pay and benefits. Many people are deciding that these things are simply no longer worth it, and are choosing to make a shift accordingly.
Even the most conscious companies with the strongest leaders are seeing departures.
Many of my clients have done an exceptional job leading through the last 18 months —communicating proactively and compassionately; offering flexibility and generosity; and even increasing pay and benefits during this time. Still, many of these companies are seeing some degree of the “Great Resignation,” even if to a lesser extent.
What is “Enough?”
In some cases, there seems to be a moving target of what is “enough," and different perspectives on this answer between team members and leaders. In several instances, I've witnessed a growing sense of unhappiness from an employee perspective, alongside what feels like “pulling out all the stops” from a leadership perspective. Employees are asking “what have you done for me lately?” and saying “I don't feel you're doing enough,” while leaders are asking, “what else can we do?” and “where is the gratitude and appreciation for all that we have done?”
This is a tricky dynamic to navigate, where the truth often lies not on one side or the other, but somewhere in the middle.
What about you? What are you seeing with your teams and in your own sphere?
Thank you for reading —wishing you a wonderful holiday weekend ahead.