What Is Driving Turnover?

The Great Resignation has become the new norm that news sources have changed the rhetoric from the Great Resignation to the Great Upgrade. In the beginning, when companies lost control of the job market, the narrative was that they were suffering. The portrayal has changed from companies struggling to employees making an upgrade. 

In the past year, 47.4 million Americans voluntarily left their job for a new opportunity. The question remains for companies; why are employees mass exiting their jobs?

Employees are leaving their current position in masses because of toxic work cultures. Employees spend more of the workweek at work than at home or with their loved ones, and they are beginning to realize work is a lot more than making money. 

From the MIT Sloan Management Review, they found that “…a toxic corporate culture is by far the strongest predictor of industry-adjusted attrition and is 10 times more important than compensation in predicting turnover.” Some of the employees’ most significant concerns within a company are feelings of disrespect from seniors to juniors, equity and inclusion, inability to promote diversity, and unethical behavior. 

As awful as the pandemic was, it helped many individuals recognize what is important, especially at work. Once companies went remote and employees saw the capabilities that employers had to control a better and safer work environment, most employees were not willing to give that up. 

Now that companies want to return to life before the pandemic, employees are vocal about post-pandemic benefits. Employees dislike a company’s hypercritical culture, lacks appreciation, and are unapproachable. 

The MIT Sloan Management Review also found that although working from home is a perk, the main reason for leaving their current job is to seek a better work environment. If companies are looking to change their work environment, they need a deep dive into why workers think it is toxic. 

Toxic work environments fester from seniors within the company not acknowledging the wants and needs of their employees. Transitioning company culture is doable for every company and should be at the forefront of their benefits to workers.