Many service workers, especially those in retail, are leaving their jobs in search of entry-level positions elsewhere. Entry-level jobs in offices and warehouses typically pay less, but offer greater opportunities for upward mobility and compassion.
Nonetheless, many employers are looking for new talent and the Great Resignation is helping to reshape workplace culture.
What is the Great Resignation & Why Many are Quitting?
The Great Resignation refers to a trend of people quitting their jobs en masse, often for reasons related to burnout, dissatisfaction with their work, or a desire for a change in their career or personal life.
This trend has been observed in various industries and countries around the world, and appears to be driven by a combination of economic, social, and personal factors.
One major factor contributing to the Great Resignation is the increasing prevalence of burnout in the modern workforce. Many people feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their jobs and are seeking more meaningful or fulfilling work that aligns with their values and goals.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional stress and pressure on workers, leading some to seek a change in their current employment situation.
Another reason for the Great Resignation is a growing dissatisfaction with the traditional 9-to-5 work model. Many people are seeking greater flexibility and autonomy in their work, and are looking for opportunities to work remotely or on a freelance basis.
This shift has been facilitated by advances in technology, which have made it easier for people to work from anywhere and connect with clients and colleagues online.
Overall, the Great Resignation reflects a desire for change and a search for more purposeful, fulfilling work. While quitting a job can be a difficult and risky decision, many people are finding that it is worth it in the long run if it allows them to find work that is more meaningful and aligned with their values and goals.
The average monthly quit rate
The average monthly quit rate of people is a measure of how many workers leave their job each month.
This statistic is calculated as the number of people who quit a job for the month as a percentage of the total number of workers. States with the highest quit rates include those with tight labor markets and low unemployment.
Those conditions cause employers to offer higher wages and other incentives to keep workers. The “Great Resignation” includes many reasons why workers leave their jobs.
Some people choose to start their own businesses or opt for early retirement. Others may simply move to a new place with better pay.
While the overall quit rate has declined over the past few months, the November 2021 figure is the highest in 21 years. The lowest quit rate was seen in the service industries, including retail, while the highest quit rates were in the federal government.
For the month of November, 3. 4 million people left their jobs.
That is more than one-third of all quitters. In contrast, the rate of people quitting their jobs in other industries increased by just 0.7%, and remained low.
The rate of people quitting their jobs jumped each month from 2009 to 2021 but then fell again during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Because of this, workers held on to their jobs longer. Once the pandemic cleared, the quit rate went back up.
In 2021, however, the average monthly quit rate increased to a record high, at a rate of about two percent. That number is significantly higher than the previous year’s 1.2% rate.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on quit rate
The COVID-19 pandemic set off unprecedented job losses and a churn in the U. S. labor market. With widespread job losses, a Great Resignation was in full swing and the nation’s “quit rate” reached a 20-year high last November.
The Great Resignation forced employers to review their retention strategies and consider how to cope with this situation. Among non-White adults, reasons for leaving their jobs rose from the previous year to one in the following year.
These non-Whites were more likely to cite work-related stress, lack of flexibility, working too few hours, and their employer requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. This study, however, did not break out these reasons by race, so we cannot draw conclusions from the data.
Several factors may contribute to this skewed trend. For example, a school quarantine and business trips can increase the stress level of employees.
In such cases, employers must respond to employees’ demands. In addition to responding to the stress level of their personnel, employers should plan for increased absenteeism and a decrease in productivity.
The World Health Organization and credible sources of information should be consulted for updates on the situation. Dedicated hotlines or remote seminars for employees to ask questions are also helpful.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on quit rates are now beginning to play out. A large percentage of job churn has been concentrated in frontline service positions, which rely on in-person interactions with customers and cannot be performed remotely.
Frontline positions are also among the lowest-paying jobs, making them vulnerable to viral outbreaks. And employers will have to contend with this trend for years to come.
Millennials resigning more than any other demographic
Millennials have a reputation for being flighty, prone to leaving their jobs, and prone to misbehaving in the workplace.
But, according to a recent survey, two-thirds of bosses say millennials have the highest churn rate of all demographics. These leaders oversee more than 400,000 employees and 72 companies, which employ a total of 1.4 million millennials and older Gen Xers. Despite these worrying statistics, Millennials aren’t resigning for the wrong reasons.
While the reasons for this high rate of resignation vary by generation, salaries are among the top priorities for all age groups in the US and the UK. Gen Z millennials in particular are looking for flexible work environments, career development, and a sense of belonging.
Millennials are the largest demographic in the labor force, accounting for over half of career changers. Yet, these workers often have substantial experience in their fields.
Millennials have experienced downsizing and difficult job market conditions, which has made them less willing to stay in companies that do not offer career growth opportunities and low salaries. They also value the freedom of self-expression and flexibility and don’t want to be tied to a traditional schedule.
They prefer to work from home, if possible. A recent survey also found that 36% of millennials are open to new jobs within the next 12 months.
Despite this trend, millennials still represent the most common demographic among millennials. This is partially due to their desire for greater work-life balance, as they are more likely to opt for remote working and companies that prioritize equality and diversity.
While Gen Z may be responsible for the recent spike in quits, the reasons remain consistent across generations. For example, in a recent study by talent acquisition platform Lever, 42% of Gen Z workers said they would quit their jobs if they were not happy with their salaries.
Effect of caregiving responsibilities on Job Quit Rate
Researchers have found that taking care of a parent reduces the probability of working for women in their early 50s and 60s.
Caregiving responsibilities are less strongly associated with withdrawal from the labor market when carried out alongside other work obligations.
Moreover, the type of caregiving role an individual performs affects the ability to combine work and caregiving. For example, “nonshiftable” caregiving tasks require that an individual is available to care for a loved one during a certain period of the day, whereas “shiftable” caregiving tasks can be performed at any time.
Jobs with rigid schedules may be more difficult to combine with caregiving responsibilities. Employers should take the costs of caregiving into account.
Caregiving responsibilities can include costs incurred by replacement employees, increased absenteeism, and interrupted workdays. Additionally, these employees may incur management and administrative costs related to the time they spend with their caregiving obligations.
Unfortunately, the data on this topic is old and based on assumptions. This makes it difficult to make informed decisions based on data from reliable sources.
The majority of Americans have no choice but to take care of their families. According to a study by the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than half of caregivers still hold a job.
However, fifteen percent of these caregivers reported that their employment was less flexible than before. This means that women are not supported at work and may face difficulties re-entering the labor market once their caregiving obligations are over.
Signs of churn
One of the biggest challenges companies face is employee churn.
It costs companies as much as $60,000 per employee, and there are indirect costs as well. Employee turnover is costly in terms of lost business, lost productivity, and time and resources spent on candidate selection.
Thus, companies must work to prevent employee churn. Here are some ways to prevent employee churn.
Follow these signs to avoid losing valuable employees. Employees approaching the end of their employment may prepare their office space.
They may clear their desk of personal items, reorganize their computer files, and leave the workspace clean and organized for former colleagues. Employees often tell at least two people before formally announcing their decision, but they may also start holding closed-door meetings without informing their boss.
If you notice this pattern, it could mean that your employee is considering quitting. Employee attrition rates can be an indicator of the effectiveness of a company’s onboarding processes.
When turnover rates are high, it takes an average of two years for a new employee to catch up to the productivity level of an existing employee. Moreover, companies that have high rates of early attrition should look into their onboarding processes.
They must make the necessary changes as quickly as possible. Increased churn in an organization means an increasing percentage of employees leaving in the first three months.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While some employees resign, others leave because of a lack of opportunity.
Employee churn is beneficial for some companies; others may even be necessary. In any case, knowing your staff and providing them with the best possible work environment is essential to stopping unwanted churn.
5 Tips to Keep Employees Longer at a Company
Employee retention is vital to a successful business, and it’s critical that you do everything in your power to make them want to stay.
By keeping these tips in mind, employees will stay longer at a company. This can help companies attract and retain talent more easily.
To make an employee stay, start by removing toxic co-workers.
Toxic co-workers are overly critical, undercutting colleagues and only looking out for themselves. They also drive high-achievers out of the organization.
According to a McKinsey survey, relationships with co-workers are linked to turnover. It’s the age-old saying, “one bad apple spoils the bunch,” and it certainly applies to the workplace.
To increase the chances of employee retention, organizations must consider carefully the hiring process. They should ensure that the job description and role description are clearly defined. Moreover, the candidates must fit the company’s culture.
Provide flexible working hours. Flexibility is a hot topic with employees. By giving employees more freedom, managers can keep their best workers. According to Flexjobs, 30% of employees had left a job because it didn’t offer flexible working hours.
Eighty percent of workers said they would stay loyal if a company offered flexible working hours. By offering flexibility to employees, employers can ensure a more productive, happy, and satisfied workforce.