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“Breaking Up” With Your Employees

1/4/2022

5 Comments

 
Picture
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that during the months of April, May, and June 2021, 11.5 million workers quit their jobs. The Great Resignation is real. And it’s ongoing. According to Gallup research, 48 percent of employees are actively looking to make a change. How should employers react to those two small but impactful words: “I quit”?
 
Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Debbie Cohen and Kate Roeske-Zummer, co-founders of HumanityWorks, point out that the employees who stay will be watching how you deal with those who go. What outcome do you want to create out of this disruption?
 
“In far too many companies when an employee gives notice the reaction is akin to an emotional breakup — you’ve been left and you feel rejected. This triggers some not great behavior like a tendency to make the person leaving ‘wrong’ and doubt the person’s trustworthiness or integrity — even though that was not the case before they gave notice. There is a penchant to dismiss their presence and devalue their contribution.”

Instead, the authors suggest approaching these transitions by showing gratitude. The era of lifelong employment is over and, with rare exceptions, employees are with your organization as a stop on their career journey. They’ve contributed and, hopefully, learned new things. They’re not the same person they were when they were hired (and the same goes for you and for the organization). “What would it be like to pause when a resignation occurs and give voice to these things from both sides of the relationship?” they ask. What would be created if you acknowledge how both sides have grown and evolved?
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Besides, the talent pool is tight, and careers are long. End this phase of your time together with appreciation, and who knows what the future will bring—perhaps even re-recruitment down the road.

How has your organization been responding when employees announce they are leaving, and could there be an improvement? To join the conversation, click "comments" just below the picture for this article.  We want to hear from you!

5 Comments
gregg miller link
1/5/2022 11:39:12 am

We attempt to have an immediate exit interview to learn. to listen. to gain perspective. And then share the notes with other management in order to apply what we have learned.

I was shocked to have our #1 client lose a 9000 day+ 24 year employee and not ask why he was wanting to move on. They learned of his displeasure and fired him on the spot.

We are working on adding the "6 Working Genius" The Table Group has written about. We are trying to establish this into our system of responsibilities from all office staff in order to get the right people doing the jobs they are uniquely gifted for. We think this will ensure a better fit for everyone. Stay tuned on this.

Reply
Peter Glaser
1/6/2022 01:37:29 pm

Gregg, Thank you for sharing this with our community. This is obviously a wide spread problem and your intensive efforts should hopefully bear fruit. Please keep us appraised of your progress and we will share them with our community.

Gratefully,

Peter

Reply
Gregg Miller link
1/2/2023 09:31:05 pm

2 months ago, our 25+ teammate company handed off HR duties, and this company is doing the exit interviews. They have asked great questions to our leaderhip in order to better serve everyone. On exits we are being more detailed. And onboarding, we are being more intentional on what success looks like to them and us.

Amy
1/6/2022 08:37:06 am

I have just had a small exodus from my company and it was hard not to take it personally.

All 4 of them are 21 years old and want much, much more acknowledgment than the baseline appreciation for quality work. They want awards almost for showing up, it seems, so this employee demographic poses a very different managerial style / challenge for those of us who grew up (professionally) in environments where praise was infrequent or missing entirely. I usually feel that I’m too soft / familiar - whereas they are asking for more.

I liken it to having a child of like 5 or 6 years old, and then having another baby. They sort of behave like a jealous sibling who isn’t getting the attention they once garnered….because (um) their boss is busy running a company!

Reply
Peter Glaser
1/6/2022 01:36:52 pm

Thanks for sharing your experience with our community, Amy. The Great Resignation has created serious issues for business owners and large organizations all over the globe. We know your work and your commitment to communication over so many years. So your comments amplify the intensity of this problem. We will continue to share any solutions we identify, including recommendations from people throughout our community.

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  • Courses
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