A poor work-life balance and toxic work environment seems to be the driving culprit behind a recent wave of employee resignations. Employers need to improve company culture, and spot the warning signs before employees head for the door.
Forty-two percent of employees have considered quitting their job or already resigned, according to a recent survey by Flexjobs. Of those surveyed, 29% cited poor work-life balance as their principal reason for wanting to resign, while another 27% blamed a toxic company culture. Limited opportunities for advancement and
"The pandemic gave everybody a peek into another world when we all were working remotely," says Toni Frana, FlexJobs' lead career expert. "At companies or in environments where somebody is really looking to have that work life balance, and they just aren't able to find one in the organization that they're working for, they are going to look for other opportunities."
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Frana believes that one sign of trouble is a lack of clear communication. If employees suddenly seem more withdrawn or stop communicating, that can be an indicator that something is going awry in the workplace. Frana finds that keeping positive lines of communication open is crucial to maintaining strong workplace relationships.
A growing fear of layoffs have also influenced people's perceived job stability. To help them feel more stable in the midst of post-pandemic job changes, it is important that employers open up opportunities for career development, according to Frana. Offering courses in leadership, different training, and encouraging collaboration between teams can help foster professional development. She also encourages leadership to take an active role in shaping a positive workplace culture.
"For employers, the key to work-life balance or work flexibility for your employees is to really model what that looks like," says Frana. "That might mean, as a manager, you step out during the middle of the day and have a quick workout, or go for a walk, or step away for a little bit for an appointment. Modeling that for your team will really help them understand that it is okay to have some flexibility."
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Another top motivator behind employees' desire to quit is a career change. Fifty-eight percent of workers surveyed by Flexjobs said that they were actively looking to switch careers, with most seeking higher pay and more remote work options. For some, the threat of being laid off may be the final push. Over a third of those surveyed said that they feared being fired.
Ultimately, it's the overall combination of
"I think when you put all of those factors together for people, they're really going to take some time to explore their options and see what else is out there," Frana says.
