Should we be less resigned?

During the Covid-19 pandemic we got all excited about the great resignation (Klotz, 2022), and interestingly, many US employees who left their positions in 2021 indicated that "low pay, no opportunities for advancement, [and] feeling disrespected" were their key reasons for leaving (Parker & Horowitz, 2022). They did find more flexibility in their new roles than they had in their old:

With over "half of these workers [... saying they are] now earning more money (56%), have more opportunities for advancement (53%), have an easier time balancing work and family responsibilities (53%) and have more flexibility to choose when they put in their work hours (50%)" (Parker & Horowitz, 2022).

OK... but only very slightly. To look at the more negative side:

Less "than half of workers who quit a job last year (42%) say they now have better benefits, such as health insurance and paid time off, while a similar share (36%) says it’s about the same" (Parker & Horowitz, 2022).

Right. So does that flexibility result in the first set of data here make any difference?

Those "who quit a job in 2021 offer similar assessments of how their current job compares with their last one. One notable exception is when it comes to balancing work and family responsibilities: Six-in-ten men say their current job makes it easier for them to balance work and family – higher than the share of women who say the same (48%)" (Parker & Horowitz, 2022).

Ow. So men are better off, and women slightly worse off. How did that happen? And has that happened here? (I hope not). 

Overall, it seems as if the Americans in the survey who made the leap into the 'new', effectively crossed over into 'olds', and ended up collectively worse off.  It seems they may have taken their problems with them... or gone into organisations with similar cultures.

Perhaps they may have been better to have seen a career practitioner, and got some advice before the leap.

Sam

References:

Klotz, A. (2022). The Great Resignation Is Still Here, but Whether It Stays Is Up to Leaders. OECD. https://www.oecd-forum.org/posts/the-great-resignation-is-still-here-but-whether-it-stays-is-up-to-leaders

Parker, K., & Horowitz, J. M. (9 March 2022). Majority of workers who quit a job in 2021 cite low pay, no opportunities for advancement, feeling disrespected. Pew Research Centre. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/03/09/majority-of-workers-who-quit-a-job-in-2021-cite-low-pay-no-opportunities-for-advancement-feeling-disrespected/?utm_placement=newslette