During this time of the 2022 “Great Resignation”, you might be working at your job wondering if something is passing you by. As your colleagues are leaving for other positions, or removing themselves from the workforce, it may have crossed your mind whether you should also be leaving your current role.
In my opinion, it does not make sense to leave unless you have a real reason to make such a crucial decision. There are, however, a number of different signs that serve as indicators that it might be time for you to leave your current employer. Some of these indicators should be obvious, but it is amazing how often an employer working with their head down may overlook them. On the other hand, there are signs that are rather subtle, but are equally important when determining whether to leave. Similar to most decisions, there usually isn’t just one reason to depart, but rather several items combined will be the driver. Let’s take a moment to review some of the most common signs.
• Workload is Too Much: One of the unfortunate results of the “Great Resignation” is that the employees who remain have to absorb extra duties, increasing their already heavy burden. This may also be coupled by an inability to take Paid Time Off due to the shorthanded status of the workforce. If the workload overload has existed for a while without a firm resolution in sight, then it may be time.
• 2021 Financial Close/2022 Projection: The financial status of your current employer may be a driver to depart. By this time, you should know how your employer performed in the previous year. This information combined with how the current year is shaping up, can help determine whether looking elsewhere is in your best interest.
• 2021 Bonus/2022 Merit: This is tied to our previous bullet point regarding the financial status of your employer. If the financial result of the employer leads to a lower-than-expected bonus, or a smaller than desired merit increase (especially in this period of high inflation), then you may have no choice but to see what else is out there.
• Unfair Decision Making: It is amazing how virtually no information can stay confidential between employees (in fact, in most situations, the government encourages and protects this sharing). So, if a bonus decision or a merit increase is below that of your co-workers and you believe that it is unwarranted, then you have good reason to consider leaving. This is especially true if your performance review is lower than expected, and you do not feel it accurately reflects what you delivered last year.
• Supervisor Issues: Studies still show that the number one reason that people leave their current position is due to their supervisor. If your supervisor is not developing you as desired, or perhaps makes your workday miserable with micromanaging or criticism, then you may have the only sign that you need. This issue may also have come to the forefront based on any movement you have made back to the worksite from a remote setting. If you worked remote, you may have had less contact with your supervisor and, therefore, found the situation more tolerable than you do now.
• Your Commute: You probably have not changed your commute distance, but you have found your budget pinched due to your ride back and forth to work. The current price of gasoline can make any trip to work costly, but this is especially true if your employer is not nearby. A change to a shorter commute may automatically provide you a noticeable increase in compensation without any other improvement factored in.
• Benefit Changes: Most employers run their benefit year on a calendar basis (some may do mid-year July). So, at this point, you should know the impact of any cost share or plan changes for 2022. If you are finding any changes prohibitive or the overall benefit program to not be competitive, then it may be time to find something better.
• Being Passed Over: The beginning of a new year often brings a review for workers of their current status and whether they are satisfied at their current level. For many, there is a desire to continue to progress in their career by taking on more responsibility in exchange for higher compensation. If opportunities have surfaced with your current employer but you are being passed over, or (even worse) not even considered, then checking your value in the labor market may be required.
Employment tenure seems to be at an all-time low, as employees actively take part in what is being called, by some, the “Great Resignation”. Like with any significant decision you make, a person should evaluate all factors and weigh the pros and cons rather than just jumping into things headfirst with your resignation. A key first step, however, is to recognize the signs from your current employer that it is time to leave.
As always, the best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of WNYJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at: Joe Stein
