Using the Great Resignation to Elevate Your Current Position and Get What You Want
People are quitting their job every day, but that doesn’t mean that you need to!
The Great Resignation has resulted in more than 4.9 million people quitting their jobs because of COVID-19. While workers are transitioning for several reasons, many of their reasons are rooted in recent reflections about working hours, demand, and frequency. As a result, many sectors are plagued by continuous staff shortages, particularly fields that faced increased pressure throughout the pandemic, such as hospital staff and educators. This high influx of departing team members directly correlates to remaining workers feeling overworked and burned out. And while many decide to leave their career fields or companies entirely, others try their best to stick it out. Sticking it out allows you to leverage the great resignation to get what you want: increased benefits & flexibility.
The Effects of Working from Home
Many of us have worked from home for at least 11-12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although everyone’s working-from-home environment and comfortability varied, many workers are now hesitant to return to work despite the end of the nationwide quarantine and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccination. Surprisingly, many apprehension feelings have less to do about contracting the virus and more about returning to “the grind.”
Returning to the Grind
America is “the grind.” The work hard, play later mentality that many sectors taut as their workers exceed 40 hours of work within a week. The belief is that if you work harder and for longer, you will have access to the lifestyle that you believe yourself and your family deserve. Even though many knew this never to be true, the COVID-19 time-out was eye-opening for many. When workers began to reflect on what returning to work would look like, they opted out, instead prioritizing their mental health, family, and happiness. While wanting increased pay and benefits are always the primary motivator, other reasons for quitting their jobs include a desire to start their own business, remote work, or simply finding a job more aligned to their passion and interests. Regardless of the reason, though, a commonality is a great need for flexibility.
Burnout and the Aftermath
Burnout is a recent buzzword that speaks to the chronic stress one experiences because of their workload and responsibilities. More specifically, it relates to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted due to an inability to sustain or manage one’s duties. Traditionally, companies have put much responsibility on staff members to avoid burnout by implementing “self-care” practices. However, recently companies have begun to take on some responsibility to lighten their load. For example, companies have extended work-from-home flexibility, increased time off, and provided other financial incentives to affect their employees positively. However, even those gestures can only go so far when the workload continues to exceed the capacity of an individual. If your company is making efforts to implement more sustainable practices for their employees, that is a sign that you might be working for a company that cares. In these instances, sticking it out, but learning to advocate for what you need to be successful, and stay on board, might work in your favor.
Strategy and Execution
1. Decide What You Want
Big decisions require a time of deep reflection, thinking specifically about what you need to feel supported and more successful in completing your role. As a program manager, I was more productive working from home due to the limited distractions from team members asking me questions. A report that might take me all day to complete in the office, I could knock out within 3 hours in the comfort of my home office. Therefore, when considering the benefits that would improve my productivity and happiness at work, flexibility to work from home would be at the top of my list. However, as an educator, I understand some asks cannot be granted due to the nature of my job. Instead, I might seek additional compensation for the tasks I have to complete due to a shortage on my grade team. Whatever your situation, think about what you need and what is within reason to ask for, which will not have a detrimental effect on the company.
2. Plan Your Approach
Once you have identified what you need, it is time to create a strategy for the asking. First, consider the person you must speak with and the when and where to have these conversations. To seriously be considered, you should not engage your manager in these conversations while you are both are walking in the hallway. Instead, find a time that you are both available to speak in detail about your request. You want to ensure that you have enough time to state your case and provide the rationale for your asks and time for them to seek clarification. Not delivering your request with proper care can result in your asks being dismissed or denied, both of which could be disappointing. Therefore, prepare for your argument by gathering supporting documentation, evidence, and information to convince them that they should consider your requests. Keep in mind that you might not receive a definitive answer in the moment, but your goal is to start the conversation.
3. Be Prepared to Walk Away or Be Okay
Sometimes regardless of your approach or rationale, you might be met with resistance or complete denial. You must evaluate if you want to remain with the company or seek alternative employment in those instances. It is not about getting your way, rather respecting your work boundaries and preferences. To this point, going to another company still might not meet your needs, so you should think about your experience with the company before making any final decisions. You might decide to stick it out until you find alternative employment or realize that you can manage your typical work schedule and tasks.
Either way, quitting should not be your first instinct. Remember, all they can say is no, but what if they agree? You won’t know until you ask.
Diana Williams, Resume Tailor
