The pandemic did more than cause shutdowns and social distancing. It led to what’s now called the “Great Resignation.” This is an ongoing economic trend where workers are calling it quits, en masse, and voluntarily. It began in early 2021 with the number of workers leaving their jobs in January at 2.3%. Over the course of that year, it jumped up to 3% in December. That translates into more than 4 million workers.
So what’s behind what’s also known as the “Big Quit” and the “Great Reshuffle”?
There are many factors. However, most experts attribute it to burnout, a desire to switch careers – with the pandemic offering an ideal opportunity – and wanting to find a new job that paid more. Other reasons included leaving jobs that lacked flexible scheduling, good salary, and benefits, and had issues with diversity and inclusion of women, or wanting to start a business.
Experts agree that this trend will eventually come to an end. Once there’s more consistency in the economy, the labor market should go back to a more normal cadence. In the meantime, you need to hire quality workers who can meet goals and complete projects. To do that, here are some tips.
How Long Are People Staying at Their Positions?
Be people-centered.
One of the lessons learned during the pandemic and with today’s worker shortage is that candidates and employees must have a voice in the employment system. When you’re empathetic and you create a candidate and employee experience that is focused on individual people – and treats each one with respect – you’re going to have an easier time finding and retaining employees.
Offer the right perks.
Workers love autonomy and the ability to make their own schedules. In fact, freedom over scheduling is a perk today’s workers place a huge value on. Providing this will go a long way in setting you apart from other employers, as a result. For your employees, it enables them to achieve and maintain a better work-life balance, all without sacrificing productivity.
Focus on mental health.
The strain and stress of the last two years is real and many employees have dealt with stress and anxiety, as a result. Make sure they have access to the resources they need to deal with any issues and maintain good mental health.
Not only does this improve the health and wellness of your people, but boosts retention, as well. In fact, according to Mercer’s 2021 Health on Demand report, 42% of employees with access to mental health benefits said they’re more likely to stay with their current employer because of those resources.
Do you need more help hiring during the Great Resignation?
At Future Force, we’re here to help. Whether you need workers on a short-term basis or new hires full-time, we can meet all your staffing needs, so your company is productive and efficient at all times. Contact us today to learn more about our temporary and temporary-to-hire staffing services and direct hire staffing.