Musing Upon 'The Great Resignation'

Woke up today after a solid 8.5 hours of sleep (omg… solid!) and barely feel any fatigue at all today. My “better normal” kind of a day! It’s sweet! And I can notice things and think about them…

Like take the massive labor push back across the nation (and many parts of the western world). People are up and quitting at crazy rates not seen in decades– as in, since a century ago, when we had the last great labor movements! It’s also been called the ‘Great Resignation,’ a term describing the recent nationwide surge in resignations across industries. Getting a little time off during the pandemic made people reassess their entire lives, realizing how much of them they were missing for low-paying work at long hours.

Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/09/30/during-great-resignation-workers-refuse-accept-unacceptable/

And, I think it’s about time, honestly.

I know it inconveniences many of us, constantly, almost everywhere. I don’t go out much, but I’ve dealt with restaurants closed for lack of waitstaff and/or cooks. Our recycling isn’t being picked up more than ONCE A MONTH, when normally it’s 3 times a month, due to lack of truck drivers. I see the “Hiring Now” and “Help Wanted” signs everywhere. It’s clear that even with extended unemployment ending, people aren’t willing to suck it up anymore.

Of course this means prices are going up as well, because of shortages and wages being pushed higher as employers get more desperate for help. And on my tight budget, I’ve cut into my savings several times, just to pay rent and keep up. However, even so, I find my sympathy is for those who work and are treated unfairly. They deserve better. I’ve worked part-time here and there throughout my adult life and I know that customer service is a truly shit job, especially if you’re behind a counter. People love to abuse a trapped animal, that’s for sure…

So who is quitting and why? They’ve asked!

hbr.org/2021/09/who-is-driving-the-great-resignation

In a nutshell, those who are quitting the most are:

~ between 30 and 45.

~ mostly mid-level employees (not entry-level).

~ working in healthcare, tech, and face-to-face customer service jobs.

The reasons they are quitting are:

~ increased hours and pressure during and after the pandemic shut-downs, leading to burnout.

~ a substantial increase in customer abuse without employer protection.

Um… yeah. I get it.

www.inc.com/phillip-kane/the-great-resignation-is-here-its-real.html

“So, with all of this going on, what can a typical small enterprise do to stem the tide — particularly as larger, better-funded corporate competitors compete for the same, smaller talent pool?

My illness means I can’t work (especially now) but I can see the storms raging around me and find the possibility that conditions and pay will get better for so many people because of this rather exciting.