Overcoming the 'Great Reassessment' Contest: A Guide
The Great Resignation or Great Reassessment: A Shift in the Working Landscape
In the rapidly evolving world of work, a concerning trend is taking shape - the "Great Resignation" or the "Great Reassessment." This trend, occurring in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, is causing a ripple effect across various industries.
The working norm has seen several waves of evolution due to the pandemic over the past eighteen months. The shift in the talent market, a result of employees leaving their jobs, is a significant part of this evolution. The trend is happening across industries, from tech to non-profits, and it is being referred to by some as the "Great Reassessment."
One of the major factors driving this latest shift in the talent market is workers reevaluating their career priorities. COVID-19 forced many workers to pause and reconsider their careers, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. With heightened awareness of personal fulfillment and purpose, many left jobs that lacked alignment with their values, growth opportunities, or adequate compensation.
Another key factor is the demand for work-life balance and flexibility. Remote and hybrid work models, a byproduct of the pandemic, have reshaped expectations, with many employees favoring roles that offer greater schedule flexibility and reduce commuting. A lack of such flexibility contributed to turnover, especially in roles perceived as inflexible or overly demanding.
Feeling overworked and underpaid is another significant reason for this shift. Studies, particularly in non-profits, show employees felt overburdened and undervalued, with limited advancement opportunities. The pandemic intensified these issues, increasing resignations among those sectors.
The acceleration of technology adoption has also created new opportunities in tech, healthcare, e-commerce, and logistics. Workers are capitalizing on this by reskilling and shifting to roles aligned with evolving market needs.
Lastly, employees increasingly seek jobs offering professional growth, purpose, and meaningful work, rather than staying out of necessity alone.
Recent data suggests the initial wave of mass resignations has somewhat stabilized into what is now termed a "Great Stay," where workers are more cautious about quitting due to economic uncertainty and have started clinging to existing roles (called "job hugging").
The pandemic has catalyzed a major reassessment of work conditions, especially revolving around remote/hybrid work, personal fulfillment, and flexible work environments. This trend, occurring in 2021, is fundamentally reshaping workers’ relationship with their jobs.
[1] Alice Li, "Why millions of Americans are quitting their jobs," CNN, September 9, 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/09/business/great-resignation-quitting-jobs/index.html
[2] Jena McGregor, "The Great Resignation is real. Here are 5 reasons workers are quitting their jobs," Washington Post, September 2, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/09/02/great-resignation-quitting-jobs/
[3] Sarah O'Brien, "Why the Great Resignation is hitting nonprofits hard," CNBC, August 10, 2021, https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/why-the-great-resignation-is-hitting-nonprofits-hard.html
[4] Emily Peck, "The Great Resignation Is Slowing Down. Here's Why," NBC News, October 21, 2021, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/great-resignation-slowing-down-heres-why-n1277948
In the midst of the Great Resignation, workers are reassessing their careers and priorities, resulting in a shift away from jobs that lack alignment with their values, growth opportunities, or fair compensation, particularly in business and technology sectors. The evolving work landscape demands that companies offer purposeful work, professional growth, and flexible work arrangements in order to retain employees and attract top talent.
