The Great Resignation

“The Great Resignation” is upon us. A brilliant term that arrives courtesy of Texas A&M Associate Professor Anthony Klotz, and perfectly encapsulates the modern-day movement among American workers. They’re looking. And they’re moving. They’re looking for new challenges, new opportunities, new benefits, and new environments. And they’re moving to new jobs, new cities, new states, and sometimes-new careers and new industries. According to Bankrate’s August 2021 Job Seeker Survey, 55% of Americans say they are likely to look for new employment in the next 12 months. Let that number sink in for a moment. 55% of workers, will be looking, within the next year. That’s a remarkable number and hints at a coming labor market as competitive as we’ve ever seen for top talent.

     The good news is the best companies are preparing for the labor battle. They’re preparing by creating the very best work environments and offering the very best benefits they can afford. Companies big and small are not only anticipating the great resignation, they’re already living it. Perhaps no industry better exemplifies the transition in employee perception better than the service industry. Throughout the pandemic, no industry has been as stunted as this one and no industry has required such self-examination. Restaurant and bar workers, the world around, have been the canaries in the coalmine. Shouting as they may for better conditions, better pay, and more respect. And the best companies, the best restaurants, the best bars- are already responding.

     This is part of the need Our Service Well fills. We give all businesses, big and small, the same opportunity to lay out why they’re a great place to work. How do small businesses compete? You’d be surprised. Sometimes it’s the little things, like lack of uniforms (or free uniforms!) or 3 week advanced scheduling or half-shifts or a couple days of PTO a month. For larger companies, bigger commitments are possible; health insurance, paid vacations, scheduling apps and tuition reimbursement. But the goal remains the same; give businesses a site to advertise what it’s like to work for them.

     It’s important to note the same Bankrate survey mentioned above should serve as an important warning flare to employers of younger workers. Bankrate noted 77% of Gen Z (age 18-24) and 63% of Millenials (age 25-40) planned to look for a new position over the next 12 months. This is obviously the wheelhouse for retail and restaurant industry employees. The Great Resignation isn’t just about people already ensconced in their chosen careers or industries; it’s also about young people. The number one reason someone is looking for a new job? Flexibility. 56% of those surveyed indicate more flexibility is their most important priority at the moment. The irony, as we see it, is that a well-run service industry job, or a properly managed retail position, is entirely capable of offering more flexibility than many “office” jobs. You can only work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday? Great! That’s doable. Nighttime works best? Got it. Only mornings? OK too. Savvy job seekers are already looking for a workplace that best suits them. Our Service Well is a tool that will link job seekers with employers, at the most basic level of introduction. Workers are looking for a better opportunity. It’s time for companies to respond.