Many workers have become aware of the ‘great resignation’ movement, and companies are feeling the effects – both during the pandemic and long before. 

The movement raises big questions regarding employee loyalty, and whether it’s now accepted as a rare trait in employees. 

Why employees are resigning en masse

The ‘great resignation’ is widely regarded to have been a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020, however many businesses and workers did not feel the effects of the movement until early 2021. The result was millions of workers across the United States quitting their jobs, with this number continuing to escalate. Concerningly, the trend is touted to repeat itself in Australia in 2022.

The discussion surrounding mental health is perhaps one of the primary reasons that many workers have gone the route of resignation. The pandemic has rewritten the conversation of the psychological impact of demanding jobs, with many workers realising that the reward for their time, labour, effort, and other sacrifices is not equal to the benefits – remuneration or otherwise.

Finding a work-life balance

This is where employee loyalty comes into question. Loyalty may not be necessarily seen as a trait that employees regard as valuable. 

Flexibility has become an increased topic of discussion, particularly surrounding office workers. The option to work remotely either part-time or full-time (or lack thereof) is one of the primary reasons that many employees have decided to resign. Many workers simply desire the work-life balance that working from home provided, which proved to enrich their home lives as well as their mental and physical health.

Employee loyalty in the present day

The increasingly high demand for labour, hospitality and retail workers across Australia has been noticed by most Australian workers. Employee loyalty is declining across many workplaces within Australia and globally, and this is perhaps due to a lack of rewards offered to the workers. 

By empowering employees, offering (truly) competitive salaries, and allowing them more flexibility and control within their positions when appropriate are some of the ways that many companies have seen positive repercussions. 

As a result, the ‘great resignation’ evidently shows that employee loyalty is declining, and if businesses are looking to retain or gain the talent that their vision requires, changes need to be made to ensure that their engagement remains stable, and eventually, flourishes.

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My Rewards International (ASX:MRI) is a global AI technology platform focusing on fintech and e-commerce by providing rewards, recognition, and loyalty programs. They now serve more than 4.6 million members with discounts and special offers from a network of over 4,500 suppliers. These services are delivered through a self-managed cloud-based eCommerce platform.

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