We’ve all been reading about the “Great Resignation” for the past few months now, and likely there are as many opinions about the situation as there are people who either work or who employ others.
Having heard horror stories about organizations’ bad behavior during (and before) the pandemic, we seem to be more sympathetic to the mistreated employees, who are reacting to treatment ranging from benign neglect to illegal practices.
Not every employer is a “greedy,” abusive harridan or lech, taking advantage of unsuspecting and naïve employees. Some of us employers hold our positions in honor and responsibility, going above and beyond to take care of, appreciate and value the employees in our charge.
Not every employer laid off staff or reduced hours during the worst of the pandemic.
Not every employer cut benefits or pay.
Not every employer ignored the fears and concerns of their teams.
Some of us actually went above and beyond during the pandemic, making sure WE, not our employees, bore the worst of the financial brunt of the economic consequences. We listened to our team, tried to accommodate their requests, and basically boosted morale and confidence at every opportunity.
And how about before the pandemic? Many of us business owners already had the mindset that our staff are our most valuable assets and acted accordingly, with above-market wages, excellent benefits, work-life balance, and an atmosphere of attentive concern for their well-being.
So rather than continue focusing on how so many employees are leaving their jobs for allegedly greener pastures, how about asking business owners, the GOOD kind, how they feel about losing their employees to the Great Resignation.
Very glad you asked.
Pretty darn awful.
Isn’t gratitude supposed to run both ways? While I’m grateful every day for my awesome team, and try to demonstrate that constantly, shouldn’t the team also feel a degree of appreciation and loyalty to me as well?
I’ll say that, in my experience, I feel that the vast majority of my coworkers do feel gratitude and recognition of the things I do as an employer.
However, when someone leaves to take another job? Speaking from personal experience, it guts me.
We carefully recruit, interview, hire and train our staff, ensuring that we have a good fit with our company culture and values. We check in often and make sure each employee has what they need to not just survive but thrive.
How can we not take personally when someone puts in their resignation? Small business owners are often entrepreneurs who pour their hearts and souls into their organizations, carefully selecting those people they want to work with, because we are there, every day, right beside our teammates. Life happens but changing your job should have more gravitas than changing your underwear and perhaps spare a kind thought for the person who has been caring about you, concerned about you, paying you, entertaining you, rewarding you, and appreciating you all these months and years.
