The pandemic has affected all aspects of life, including the workplace. ‘The Great Resignation’ is a global phenomenon, seeing droves leave employment as questions arise over optimal working conditions.
This trend has highlighted the changing priorities for employees in recent years; a study of more than 2000 employees has shown that they now prioritise being valued in a company (25%) and value work-life balance (17%) over pay rises (9%).
With nearly 50% of tech workers willing to relocate to a new role for a better lifestyle, it has never been more critical for companies to provide a healthy work-life balance for their employees.
It’s important to note that the Great Resignation isn’t just about people leaving their jobs, but also its effect on those who stay behind, as they face increased workloads and pressure from managers struggling with staff shortages.
This article looks at why so many workers are resigning and discusses how companies can use technology to keep their employees happy and motivated.
Why are workers quitting their jobs?
The pandemic has allowed workers to rethink their careers and their priorities, so they are now looking for new employment opportunities for several reasons:
- Job flexibility: This is a leading cause of the resignation trend. Lockdowns have demonstrated the value of remote or hybrid work environments, so employees now prioritise the ability to work from home and flexible hours over other factors such as pay.
- Burnout: The recent years have been hard for everyone, with longer working hours and less employee support. This stressful environment has led to workers feeling disillusioned and undervalued.
- Employers: Companies that have failed to invest in their staff and listen to their concerns are now struggling as their employees seek more favourable conditions where they feel valued.
- Failing technology: Legacy systems and outdated technology hinder productivity, contributing to a stressful work environment that employees wish to escape.
How can companies support their workforces?
Flexibility is crucial in maintaining a healthy workforce, so employers need to rethink their current approaches to prevent their best employees from leaving them. Focusing on the right technology will help them better engage with their workforce, support their employees’ work-life balance, and improve elements causing dissatisfaction.
Integration of cloud services
Cloud computing has seen a massive increase in popularity in recent years, allowing companies to continue operations remotely during lockdowns. As services are hosted over the internet, this transformative technology supports remote working and the associated improved work-life balance. Employees can easily and securely access work applications without specialist hardware, so they can still contribute to a productive workplace.
The remote office environment allows companies to take advantage of global talent, as employees worldwide can access the same applications and data as local staff. With robust security features like two-factor authentication and firewalls, cloud services are a secure and cost-effective way to offer flexibility for employees.
Collaboration tools
The rise of online video conferencing applications like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have demonstrated that employees can still collaborate in a remote environment. These tools allow them to communicate quickly and easily with fast and reliable connections.
Collaboration tools go beyond virtual meetings; these platforms allow teams to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and chat together online in real-time. By fostering collaboration between their employees, companies can create a supportive culture within a workplace, where staff feel included and happier with their work.
Improved training tools
One of the priorities for tech workers is skills development, an aspect of their work that employers have neglected. Providing online training tools improves the productivity and skills of employees, while making them feel valued by their employers; those that feel like the company is investing in them are less likely to quit that company.
However, training tools don’t just help long-term employees. One of the downsides of remote working is that newly hired staff can struggle to integrate with the company. As they cannot easily ask for help or seek guidance from seniors, these new employees can struggle with unfamiliar systems and ways of working. Online training tools allow these employees to remotely attend ‘classes’ that teach them how to use the company’s systems and be productive with their work.
Use technology to reduce worker burnout
Digital transformation is happening across every industry and, in many cases, has been accelerated by the additional pressures of the pandemic. Identifying issues with infrastructure and implementing suitable solutions should be a priority for every company.
Automating processes reduces employee workloads, allowing them to focus on important work and reducing stress. In this way, employee productivity and overall company performance improve.
However, companies need to be careful what processes become automated. For instance, HR departments function better as human to human interactions; employees may be dissatisfied if their issues go through an AI.
How can business leaders get ahead of the curb?
The pandemic has transformed the work environment, so companies need to adapt or face long-lasting, potentially crippling issues. With employees prioritising benefits like flexibility and skills development over salary, employers need to focus on providing these and other perks to attract and retain the best talent.
Technology can transform a company’s operations, supporting employees while boosting productivity. Those companies that adapt can insulate themselves from the Great Resignation.
