How to Stop the "Big Quit" from Getting Even Bigger.

• Author: Hart, Joe
• Position: BACK TO BUSINESS

A strong corporate culture can help to quell the Great Resignation. THE U.S. is in the midst of one of the greatest workplace shakeups in recent memory--the Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4,000,000 people left their jobs in September 2021. A Gallup analysis says nearly half of America's workforce is at least thinking about changing jobs, even if they are not actively looking, and employers are scrambling to fill more than 10,000,000 open positions in the face of a record-high wave of resignations.

In a typical year, young employees are j the most mobile. They tend to change jobs more frequently than those further along in their careers, but the last two years have been anything but typical. A study published in the Harvard Business Review notes that the Great Resignation actually is being led by mid-career workers. The number of Americans ages 30 to 45 who quit their jobs in 2021 rose more than 20%.

What is driving the shift? In 2020, COVGD-19 upended every aspect of daily life, including the workplace. Workers faced protocols like masks, social distancing, and sanitation guidelines that seemed to change every day. Those who could work from home found themselves navigating uncharted waters in a remote environment.

Anxiety and burnout were widespread as people worried about their health and that of vulnerable loved ones. They feared economic instability, the impact of social distancing on children, and a host of other concerns. Many reported feelings of isolation and depression. Anxious workers expected employers to ease, or at least address, their struggles. Some employers rose to the occasion. Some did not.

As companies attempt to shift back to business as (somewhat) usual--the Omi-cron variant notwithstanding--employees are considering whether they want to go back to pre-COVTD norms. With millions of jobs available, those who were disappointed in their employers' COVID response are reexamining their priorities. They are questioning whether they truly felt valued and empowered by their employers.

Our Dale Carnegie and Associates study found more than 75% of innovative organizations are rethinking their approach to wages and benefits, although the most effective of these organizations realize salaries and benefits are just a reflection of the corporate culture as a whole. As one survey respondent put it, "Our short-term strategy is to review our benefits package, but we...