What is being termed the ‘Great Resignation’ has gotten a ton of press in recent months. It all began in the summer of 2021, when alarming statistics showed that millions of people had left their jobs in search of something better. Some eight months later, companies around the country are still struggling to fill open positions. Meanwhile, there is a core group of people who have been largely forgotten. They are shouldering the greatest burden of all.
Who are these forgotten ones? The employees left behind to do the work when so many colleagues walk away. They are the ones who either never considered leaving or just decided that it was better to stay. Either way, the consequences of the Great Resignation are very real for them.
BenefitMall, a Dallas-based company that provides general agency services to benefits brokers, published a compelling peace on this very topic earlier in 2022. They mentioned four specific ways the Great Resignation is impacting employees left behind:
1. Additional Responsibilities
It goes without saying that the work has to be done regardless of the number of employees available to do it. Simple math tells the whole story. If mass resignations leave fifty people to do the work a hundred people used to do, each of those remaining employees will have to take on additional responsibilities until staffing numbers return to normal.
According to data cited by BenefitMall, more than half of U.S. workers report taking on more work as a result of insufficient staffing. That is a considerable number by any measure. It shows just how severe the Great Resignation is.
2. Not Enough Time
As you might expect, having to take on more responsibility leaves many workers with too much work and not enough time to get it done. Again, data suggests this is a complaint among one-third of American workers. But in fairness, this has long been a complaint. Employees have historically felt like they have been asked to do more without being given any more time to do it.
3. Questioning Company Loyalty
Unfortunately, employees buckling under the pressure of the Great Resignation are beginning to question employer loyalty. Some understand that their employers are struggling to hire more people. Yet others are willing to believe that their employers are not trying hard enough. The latter assumption is not good for employers.
When employees begin questioning employer loyalty, they also begin to question their own loyalty. It is an open door to looking for greener pastures elsewhere. In fact, diminishing loyalty is said to be one of the factors driving the Great Resignation.
4. Questioning Compensation
It is impossible to discuss a topic of this nature without getting into money. Needless to say, the Great Resignation has employees questioning their compensation. Is the amount they are being paid commensurate with the amount of work they have to do? Are their benefits packages strong enough to encourage them to stick around?
This is one area in which benefits brokers and general agencies can help. As experts in employee benefits, they are in the best position to help employers looking to beef up their benefits without breaking the bank. And given how competitive the benefits space is right now, there are a lot more options than there used to be.
The Great Resignation has led millions of employees to search for new jobs, start their own businesses, or simply retire. That is all well and good for them, but their actions are also leaving millions of others to pick up the slack. These sometimes-forgotten employees continue to quietly toil while the pundits attempt to explain the Great Resignation.
