By now, you probably know of the Great Resignation. Ever since the start of the pandemic, companies have witnessed their star employees spread their wings and leave in droves to look for better opportunities, payment, and benefits elsewhere. In fact, record numbers of people have continued to quit and get hired into new roles since the beginning of this year, with more than 3.9 million employees saying "adios!" in June alone. And according to research, this trend isn’t going to quit anytime soon.
A recent report from McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm, surveyed over 13,000 people around the globe, including more than 6,000 Americans. The results revealed that around 40% of workers are considering leaving their current jobs in the next 3-6 months. "This isn’t just a passing trend or a pandemic-related change to the labor market," one of the authors of the report, Bonnie Dowling, told CNBC Make It.
"There’s been a fundamental shift in workers’ mentality, and their willingness to prioritize other things in their life beyond whatever job they hold. … We’re never going back to how things were in 2019."
To learn more about quits and what pushes people to make a change in their careers, we reached out to Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES. He is the founder and career coach behind CaffeinatedKyle who carries nearly a decade of expertise in Silicon Valley and high tech with one simple goal in mind — to help people find jobs they love.
"One of the most common reasons people quit jobs is culture misalignment," Elliott told Bored Panda. "These culture issues may be at a departmental level, organization-wide level, or both."
The career coach pointed out that flexibility is another major driving factor behind people quitting their jobs. "Workers crave flexibility in their work schedules and workplace locations. Employees want to choose when and where they work," he added. Moreover, "The current economic downturn, coupled with soaring inflation, also has many workers looking for better-paying jobs. Employees are recognizing they can secure double-digit pay increases by moving to another company."
Being treated like a piece of machinery by your employer can take a toll on your physical and emotional health. Sometimes, your work environment and the job itself can become toxic, leaving you feeling depleted by it and already coming up with ways you’ll leave your workplace (and thinking of final things you’ll say before dramatically dropping the mic).
Whether it was a heated email exchange or a stressful call with the client, it’s tempting to daydream about how you immediately turn in your two-weeks notice. After all, "A toxic work environment can lead an employee to quit on the spot," Elliott said. But at the same time, he noted it may not be a very smart move.
"I rarely advise employees to quit their jobs on the spot without notice. You want to consider the long-term ramifications that leaving your supervisor, colleagues, and customers high and dry may have on your career." Elliott explained that you should aim to provide a minimum of two weeks' notice to your employer. Try to avoid burning bridges with them and your colleagues since this could be a mistake that may hurt you in the future. Meanwhile, you can find more of his advice for employees on what to say when giving your two-week notice right here.
He continued: "If you are an executive, in a specialized role, or a business-critical employee, know that there is often an expectation that you provide your employer with ample notice when leaving your job."
When you feel the urge to quit right there and then, take a step back and assess the situation. "Instead, reflect on how you may be able to mitigate the stress of your current work environment during your final two weeks. Partner with your supervisor to develop a transition plan that is valuable to your employer while at the same time protecting your mental health and well-being." The career coach stressed that it’s also important to partner with your colleagues and other key stakeholders to ensure the smooth transition of your duties and projects.
