60% plan to leave their job by end of 2022

The 'Great Resignation' has seen millions leave their jobs as they reconsider the benefits and balances offered by their employer.

In response, many businesses re-evaluated their pay and benefits as they tried to keep and attract staff, and a positive shift in benefit claims in the US suggested that the country may be recovering from this damaging issue.

However, the employee communications platform Workvivo surveyed over 2,500 remote employees in the US and UK, and it seems that the danger presented by the phantom 'Great Resignation' is growing.

In fact, the survey found that 60% of remote working employees are considering leaving their job by the end of 2022.

The problems with remote and hybrid

Hybrid and remote work has split opinion, while some have enjoyed not coming into the office, others have felt that hybrid work doesn't suit them.

In this instance, the study noted that 60% of workers feel frustrated about the emotional disconnect from colleagues and culture since the onset of the pandemic. The same percentage also claimed that a company that appreciates and recognizes their work would help them stay longer.

When it comes to keeping these remote workers at an organization, 57% said that feeling a sense of belonging and part of a greater purpose would also make them stay longer. Additionally, 53% said a company with an inspiring mission or purpose would convince them to change jobs.

Being attracted to a job because of a company's ethical position is not uncommon, particularly amongst younger generations, and LEWIS discovered that only 19% of Gen Z candidates would work for a company with a purpose they did not align with.

Finally, 41% of correspondents said employers could do better keeping them informed.

Speaking about these findings, Workvivo CEO, John Goulding commented: “The findings of the research sheds light on the importance of prioritizing a digital-first employee experience and workplace culture.

"Employees need more from the workplace and their leaders – they need to feel appreciated, recognized and part of the greater purpose in a company that has a great culture, no matter where they work from."Employees need more from the workplace and their leaders – they need to feel appreciated, recognized and part of the greater purpose in a company that has a great culture, no matter where they work from.

Goulding added: “The research shows that modern workplace connectivity is so vital that employees are reconsidering moving jobs for a minor 5% salary increase, in search of these values in another organization.

"Employee experience, culture, and flexibility are critical in the new hybrid world and the CEOs who refuse to adapt to digital-first work cultures will absolutely lose out on talent - while those that do, will elevate employee engagement and beat the Great Resignation.”

Of course, not every employee will be a perfect fit, but getting a pulse check on how employees are dealing with hybrid work, can help avoid burnout and job changes.

Fortunately, there are plenty of surveying tools on the market, and enable managers to engage employees.

This was a poignant point when UNLEASH spoke to Stephen Duncan, executive vice president EMEA at United Minds who said: "We need to invest time and effort and energy into equipping managers to actually be comfortable managing teams that are now hybrid."

With that in mind, combatting the 'Great Resignation' looks like a task for managers who will need to have effective engagement tools in their arsenal.