The pandemic caused global upheaval. And it appears it prompted the American workforce to re-evaluate what is most important in their lives. It is estimated that around 47 million US workers quit their jobs during the pandemic.

The mass walkout was labeled the Great Resignation. However, upon learning the reasons for huge swathes of people leaving their job, the Great Resignation has been re-coined to the “Great Reflection”.

Several surveys reveal that the decision to stay or leave an employer is largely determined by the value the job brings their life.

A recent report published by Gartner indicates that today’s workers are interested in jobs that have purpose and meaning and gives them a sense of self-worth. A whopping 65% of respondents confirmed they left their previous employer due to a “shift in attitude toward the value of aspects outside work” and “the place that work should have in their life”

“People have developed a new sense of awareness and worth for themselves and the world around them. This is prompting them to demand more personal value and purpose from both life and work.” ~ Gartner

In 2021, McKinsey researchers reached the same answer which they documented in a paper titled “Help your employees find purpose – or watch them leave”.

Why Purpose and Value Are Important

We live in tumultuous times. Depression tripled in the US during the pandemic and does not show any signs of slowing down. In addition, groundbreaking science has brought attention to the need to maintain physical and mental health.

Informed people are focused on their sense of self-worth and personal experiences. Work-life balance is often mooted as a solution, but the crux of the matter is that people are motivated by jobs that serve a purpose and create value for the community.

The Great Reflection should also serve as a prompt for companies to develop board-level strategies that echo the “voice of the people.” Employees are equally as important as shareholders.

According to a survey by Workplace Culture Trends, 86% of millennials confirmed they would consider a lower-paid job with a company that matches their values and lifestyle.

When employees are given the opportunity to perform a role in society that creates value, they feel a sense of purpose. They cultivate the sense of self-worth a depressed nation craves.

Social and Environmental Responsibility

The call for companies to exert social and environmental responsibility has been growing louder year on year. An IBM survey reveals that 71% of job seekers look for employers that engage in green practices.

In order to attract top talent, construction companies have to sell the ESG value of their company to candidates. Diversity and Inclusive programs together with environmentally-friendly practices carry a lot of weight for today’s job candidates.

Health and wellbeing programs are also a hot topic for today’s employees – with burnout being high on the list of reasons that contributed to the Great Resignation. In re-evaluating their day jobs, Forbes reports:

“Workers now expect their employers to view them as individual human beings and provide benefits that support them on a personal level.”

Health and well-being programs also benefit employers. A study by Britain’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that poor cognitive function resulted in 80% of employees struggling to concentrate, 50% losing patience with clients or customers and 37% are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues.

Work With Cruitfly

Employees are an employer’s most valuable asset. To ensure your business maintains high levels of efficiency and a low turnover, acknowledging and respecting the value of your workforce should be a priority.

Cruitfly is a staffing agency that specializes in recruitment strategies for the construction industry. Not only do we have an on-demand pool of qualified workers to cherry-pick from, but we can also help construction companies refine their recruitment strategies.