After the Great Resignation comes The Great Reshuffle. For much of 2021, we were bombarded with news of employees leaving their jobs in droves. They were pursuing more flexible opportunities, quitting unsupportive work environments, or simply leaving the workforce entirely.
Although demand for talent remains at an all-time high, the exodus of employees has subsided. What happens now? In hindsight, the great resignation was long overdue. The pandemic was simply a catalyst for many employees to buck labor norms and prioritize their lives outside of office hours.
Candidates and employees are driving real change for the first time in decades. In order to attract new talent, organizations have needed to provide higher salaries, better benefits packages, and flexibility across the board. However, these changes, driven out of a need for new employees also affect tenured staff as well as the organization as a whole. There is a balance to be struck between meeting business goals while also adapting to a newly empowered workforce who has no intention of going back to the way things were.
Thus, The Great Reshuffle. Organizations are making their way into uncharted waters where they can’t rely on historical labor practices. While compensation and benefits are always top of mind, candidates are demanding a flexible environment where they are supported, trained, and encouraged to become masters of their craft. Although strong connections and a cohesive team are important, they are no longer subscribing to the idea that success is tied to an in-office culture with rigid hours and water cooler gossip.
Employees are not less motivated or less dedicated to their jobs. Simply, they are unwilling to make sacrifices that do not yield tangible returns. They have reshuffled their priorities.
To be competitive, companies will need to follow in kind. This is an opportunity for organizations to enact real policy changes and re-vamp the definition what successful work looks like. Ultimately, organizations that accept these changes as more than just a fleeting moment will succeed.
