Dear Colleague,
“You can’t fire me, I quit!”
How many times have you heard someone say that in the movies or on TV? I think we’ve all wanted to say it at one time or another. But as every HR manager knows, it’s much better to get fired than to quit.
Employees who resign their jobs don’t enjoy all the benefits, protections, and legal rights of those who get terminated. So if an employee ever says to you, “You can’t fire me, I quit” ... the proper response is: “Buh-bye!”
Nevertheless, we have been facing a post-pandemic pandemic of resignations recently. According to the Department of Labor, four million people—more than 2.5% of the entire U.S. labor force!—quit their jobs in the month of April alone.
Why is this happening?
There are many theories. Some employees got a little taste of freedom during the pandemic and they liked it. (They liked working from home, too.) Stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits gave people a chance to look around for a better job. Many people, especially single mothers, were forced to resign in order to take care of children who haven’t yet gone back to school.
How can you tell if this might be happening in your organization?
Watch out for the warning signs and symptoms of an unhappy employee. Are they taking long breaks during the day? Were they passed over for a promotion? Do they take forever to respond to phone calls and emails? Are they missing deadlines and skipping meetings? All of these are signs of a restless employee who may be looking for a job elsewhere.
What can you do about it?
For the sake of both retention and recruitment, you need to make your organization the kind of place where people want to work. It’s not just about more money and better benefits, although that’s part of it. It’s also about creating a culture where people enjoy their jobs, get along with their colleagues, feel useful and appreciated, and most importantly, have an opportunity to grow.
At the Trainers & Consultants Referral Network, we have access to a wide range of experts who can help with every aspect of employee retention and recruitment. Compensation and benefit consultants. Onboarding experts. Trainers who are skilled at making your workplace more enjoyable and satisfying. Coaches for employees who are struggling—or who simply want to get ahead in their careers.
Call me at 202-333-0644 or send an email to Sharon@TrainersAndConsultants.net and I’ll put you in touch with at least three top professionals who can do the job you need at a price you can afford. As always, our service costs nothing to you.
Oh, and by the way, don’t worry about me quitting. I expect to die at my desk. I just hope someone notices I haven’t moved for a few days!
Sincerely,
Sharon Armstrong
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