Some links on this post may link to affiliate pages that offer compensation to the author of this post.
This is going to be a bit of a different article than my usual writings but every time I have seen an article writing about “why people are leaving their jobs,” I come back feeling like they have missed the point.
We all know what started the job problem. Massive extenuating circumstances followed by government stimulation of a simpler life when unemployed.
<iframe sandbox=”allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=metaversemark-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B09Y2H2NWJ&asins=B09Y2H2NWJ&linkId=0028ea69d6f97eb4636ef3930d509553&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>
But that problem should have resolved itself 6 months ago when Biden lowered the monthly payments for unemployment.
So why are we STILL experiencing a jobs crisis?
Why are employers STILL experiencing difficulty hiring people who stay? The answer actually comes from a much bigger problem.
The pandemic forced us to move inside. Thus shortening our connections with others and reducing our reliance on others to live fulfilled lives. In many ways, we still haven’t resumed our normal way of socialization, and interaction.
<iframe sandbox=”allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=metaversemark-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B07DPWMPPY&asins=B07DPWMPPY&linkId=59900efd07556af1d423ea363c2ffff3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>
The pandemic exposed the problem of overworking for jobs that didn’t give 2 flying shits about you. We all knew there were problems with working at Amazon but as long as they are getting paid a decent wage, we were fairly OK with it.
The Real Problem with Modern American Work
Before the pandemic, much of the American culture centered around job productivity and workplace culture. Many individuals took stock of where they lived and considered their job a significant portion of their identities. But then once the pandemic hit many of the employees who considered themselves hard workers and dedicated employees got shifted to the side. Whether they were actually fired or just considered yet considered cannon fodder for the more miserable aspects of the work, employers quickly showed their true faces.
And that’s the problem. Employers for too long were getting away with underpayment of their workforce and over asking them. Every time a person chooses a new job, the employer pays a significant financial cost in getting them hired. But the employer gets to directly see those benefits payout in terms of tickets, sales, customer service solutions, and valued skills.
<iframe sandbox=”allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=metaversemark-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B099VLFFNK&asins=B099VLFFNK&linkId=a00ffdd479d190dde7d3ff95f3e3ab76&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>
“How come nobody likes work anymore?”
To an employee at lower-end jobs like retail and food service, this is a one-way bargain. How are you going to tell me that a food service laborer is getting adequately paid in our country? Small businesses generally can’t afford decent benefits, ignore most HR issues out of financial necessity, and often times have no idea how to incentivize the worker to satisfy the opportunity cost of staying at home and playing video games.
And don’t you dare scoff at that comment. If I know I can get paid a fairly decent wage by staying home and collecting uneployment, why the hell should I sacrifice that precious at-home time to make your business successful?
And it’s that fundamental question. That so many business owners do not understand. This may be your business, but it’s someone else’s day job. You, the business owner are the one who’s responsible for cultivating an environment that attracts workers. If you have shitty management and shitty pay, you will attract shitty employees.
<iframe sandbox=”allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=metaversemark-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B0B6QG5HJ2&asins=B0B6QG5HJ2&linkId=f4791a27dc82218834251b8d7e265a71&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>
Is the r/anti-work movement already over?
On the other hand. If you take care of your employment family and show them the opportunity investment of sticking with your business long term, your employee quality will improve and your hiring costs will decrease.
It all ultimately comes down to how you want your business to work. If you are dishonest with your employees if you don’t employ honest hiring and employment tactics if you don’t spend every waking moment of your day as a business owner looking to improve the lives of your employees and your customers in equal amounts…. you will lose both… fast.
Thanks for reading to the end of this post. If you find the information I provide to be helpful, please consider subscribing.
Disclaimer: None of the information presented on this site constitutes legal, business, tax, or medical advice. In each scenario, it’s recommended to first chat with a medical, legal, business, or tax professional before making any decisions.
