Much has been said about the “Great Resignation”, where a record number of people are leaving their jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 70 million people left their job in 2021. And almost two-thirds of staff who left the workplace have left in the last six months. Companies are struggling to address the problem, and many will continue to struggle for one simple reason: they don’t understand why their employees are leaving in the first place.
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Rather than take the time to investigate the true causes of attrition, many companies are jumping to well-intentioned quick fixes that fail to address the real issues. Some are increasing pay or financial perks, such as retention or “thank you” bonuses, instead of strengthening the ties people have with their colleagues and their employers. Instead of feeling appreciated and respected, employees see their relationship with their employer as a transaction that reminds them that their real needs aren’t being met.
A study completed by McKinsey Consulting found that 40% of employees surveyed said they are at least somewhat likely to quit in the next three to six months. This trend is not expected to ease up anytime soon. Almost two-thirds of employees who said they are somewhat likely to leave their job in the next three to six months said they would go without a new job. If you think about what we have been through, it is not surprising that many of us are looking for something different from work.
No doubt, this long and intense period of unknowns has taken a toll on us. Even among the most self-aware, it is hard to see things clearly when something is happening to us and everyone around us at the same time. Because of this, it is hard to manage what we feel when we can’t acknowledge it. Even when our hopes and expectations are unmet, we often can’t articulate them, which throws us off balance. It may put us on edge, or we feel off-kilter.
What to Consider Before You Make a Move
If you feel it is time to leave your job, it might be worth taking some time to consider if it is your job or if it’s you. Here are a few self-reflection questions to consider what’s best for you:
What excited you about your job when you started?
How does what you do help others?
Does where you spend your time match what you value? Both at work and home?
If you are having difficulty now, take a moment to consider when you experienced something like this previously and how you overcame it. Or, how have other people conquered it?
If I could do anything, what would I do? Or, what would I have to change?
What brings you joy? When did you last experience this? How can you find more ways to experience this?
What are you good at – what are your special talents? What is easy for you, but not for others?
Before you decide to leave your job, explore the possibility that you can adapt your current work to what works for you? For example, can you change your approach to work? How about asking for flexibility in what and when you do your job?
Because the issues related to the pandemic affect all workplaces, you may find that moving to a new job does not offer you the solution you expected. No matter where we go, we will still need to manage stress, relate to others, and ask for what we need. Perhaps a direct way to think about this is to ask, “what am I running away from?”. You can’t fix what you don’t understand.