Let’s start off on the right foot
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” –Gloria Steinem
The skinny
The quits rate in the U.S. is at an all-time high: The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 4 million quits in April 2021.
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Quit it.
No really. The rate of quits is the highest recorded since BLS started collecting data for its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.
Who are these quitters?
Well, quits increased most steeply in retail, professional and business services, transportation, warehousing, and utilities. The South, Midwest, and West in particular saw an increase in their numbers of quits.
I…
Don’t even think about it. But, come to think about it, is there a less tantalizing two-word phrase than “I quit?” It’s a thrill for the one saying it and most likely a soul-crushing experience for the one hearing it. But as the numbers show, many employees are giving the old heave-ho to their current jobs.
Yeah, it’s soul-searching time.
You’re not wrong. It took a global pandemic, but many people are rearranging priorities and thinking harder about what they want in their work/life. That, and many are simply burned-to-a-crisp burned out.
What do you mean?
Well, it comes down to navigating a new way to work. Although employees may have experienced an increase in workplace flexibility, many people that could and continue to work from home are in the process of renegotiating work-life balance. And those that couldn’t work from home may have had to work longer hours in unsafe and stressful environments.
Why not just take a vacation?
Well, sure. That’s on the mind of many, in fact. Those that couldn’t take any time off during the pandemic are hoping to take advantage of that truly-free-free time in-between jobs to take a stress-free-email-free-ping-free vacation.
Good strategy.
Sure. But this trend should be a major wake-up call to employers. Just because you are offering flexible schedules and WFH benefits doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax. When asked to list the top issues that led them to re-evaluate their career path, 50% said compensation, 34% said limited growth opportunities, and 23% said not feeling they were being challenged professionally.
Date with data: 48% of American workers said that the pandemic has made them rethink the type of job and career they want in the future.
Double date: 53% of American workers said they would retrain for a career in a different field or industry if they had the opportunity.
Further reading: Should You Quit Your Job, Too?
More reading: How to Beat Burnout – Without Quitting Your Job.
Totes quotes: “The road ahead will see the market for talent heat up, and it will become increasingly competitive for employers to attract and retain top talent. Employers looking to be a magnet for top talent in the post-pandemic economy must understand workers’ expectations of work and what they need from their jobs.”–Rob Falzon, Vice Chair at Prudential
The skinny
Recent survey finds that Human Resources job postings are up 52.5% from their pre-pandemic baseline.
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That’s a lift.
Yup. You should see the graph; it’s far outpacing the average job-posting bump of 30.5%.
What’s happening?
In short, organizations are beefing up their HR departments to navigate the return to work.
Caution: Huge challenges ahead.
You’ve got that right. Employers (and HR) are facing two massive challenges. In the next year or so, they need to figure out what balance of remote and in-person work functions best for their workforce. And they need to fill open roles, that seem to keep on coming.
A real one-two punch.
Indeed. And both problems fall on the shoulders of HR to solve. Hence the hiring frenzy. Orgs are looking for remote-work experts to help managers run hybrid or all-remote teams. And, they’re seeking experts in recruiting and onboarding to fill open jobs quickly and seamlessly.
Just add it to the to-do list…
That to-do list is probably halfway to another dimension. But just remember, HR is not immune to burnout. In fact, 71% of HR professionals said that 2020 was the most stressful year of their careers.
Totes quotes: “At the beginning of the pandemic, I talked to the 35 people who lead Accenture, globally.They all felt that it would be self-indulgent to go for a walk, or to disconnect from their phones at night. I'm sure a lot of HR leaders right now feel that incredible burden on their shoulders. So how can they be convinced to look at the data for themselves, first, and recognize that when they can go for a walk every day, and take some time to take care of themselves, they're going to be better leaders?" –Arianna Huffington Founder and CEO of Thrive Global
Further reading: Bumble Joins Burnout Break Wave.
More resources: 5 Tips for Managing Stress.
The skinny
Actually taking off when you go on vacation is vital to mental health, but many don't know how to unplug.
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Do y’all have WiFi?
Exactly. Put on your OOO and set it and forget it.
Umm, but still ping me if anything.
Tell me you’re in HR, without telling me you’re in HR ^. Like you, many of us feel stressed disconnecting from work and feel major work-oriented FOMO. But this can be detrimental to mental health. Feeling like you truly can never unplug can lead to burnout, quitting (see above), and just overall crapdom.
What to do?
Well, for one, start taking long weekends. If you don’t feel comfortable taking a whole week vacation, a long weekend away every month or even a staycation can really help recharge the batteries.
Ok, what else?
First, leave detailed contact information for emergencies and then go to a place WiFi service. If you can go on longer vacations, there’s a benefit to truly “disconnecting”—which means no news, no emails, no texts, no Slacks, etc... I mean it!
Further reading: Every Excuse You’ve Ever Made for not Unplugging on Vacation Debunked.
 Now a break from the news… |
 Compliance Corner |
Here’s something to…
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