In any organisation, the feeling of losing good employees is one you have to get used to very quickly. People quit their jobs for a wide variety of reasons – some of which are completely out of an employer’s control.
Nevertheless, while employers must become accustomed to the feeling of losing employees, they should never become comfortable with it. Because in many cases, their decision to leave is something that could have been prevented.
Now with phrases like “The Great Resignation” gaining traction, and a global Microsoft report revealing that up to 41% of employees contemplated quitting or changing professions in 2021, it seems an appropriate time to examine the standout reasons why people walk away from their employers – and how a strong, protected employer brand can keep them around.
Source: The Work Intitute
Citing ‘poor benefits offering’ as a reason for leaving jobs has increased over 100% since 2010
4 reasons why employees quit
1. Lack of growth and development opportunities
Most people do not aspire to be in the same role for decades. They want to know that there are opportunities to grow and progress in their career. If they cannot see these possibilities in their organisation, they will look elsewhere to find somewhere that will empower them to realise their true potential.
If employees feel unchallenged by the work they do, boredom can quickly set in – and boredom breeds demotivated, uninspired workers. In time, too much monotony will spur them to seek a fresh challenge somewhere else.
Source: The Harris Poll
1/3 of workers quit their former job because they didn’t gain new skills or improve their performance
2. Lack of meaning or purpose
Similarly, if employees feel like what they do lacks purpose, or isn’t contributing to their organisation’s goals, this can quickly dissuade them from sticking around. This is particularly possible when employees don’t feel connected to their company’s mission statement, values or objectives. Without this connection, it is much easier for them to disengage from their employer.
Source: XpertHR
More than 50% of organisations have seen a rise in employee requests to work more flexibly
3. Poor relationships with management or coworkers
Employees’ internal relationships are a major influence on their happiness and motivation. If they do not feel like their work is appreciated by management, or that they are constantly being berated by those above them in the pecking order, that is a sure-fire sign that they will not stay with the company long.
This extends to co-workers as well. If an employee feels isolated at work, or struggles to form good relationships with their colleagues, this again could spur them into leaving. The more passionate someone feels about their co-workers, the less likely they are to leave them.
Source: Career Addict
79% of employees consider bad leadership a factor in their decision to quit… and 40% would return to their old job if the boss was replaced
4. An unappealing corporate culture
In the same vein, if the corporate culture within an organisation is unpleasant or stagnant, it is likely to frustrate the employees trying to work within it. Especially for younger generations, a rigid or overwhelmingly negative atmosphere will actively encourage them to find one that is more suitable.
Source: Deloitte
72% of employees would leave their existing employer for one with a more inclusive culture
Read the complete collection of insights in our latest white paper
9 reasons people leave jobs – How your employer brand can fix it . Download our whitepaper here.
Attract and retain the best talent with BAM
In many cases, employee turnover can be addressed and minimised. By placing a firmer focus on the quality and consistency of your employer brand, this can convince your most talented team members to be with you for the long haul – and your company will reap the benefits of a more established, motivated workforce.
To help spread your employer brand across the entirety of your organisation, BAM by Papirfly™ is a powerful ally to have on your side. As well as accelerate the rate in which you create employer brand materials – taking production completely in-house – BAM also enables you to:
- Contain all brand guidelines, onboarding materials, training videos and more into one brand portal
- Organise all campaigns through a streamlined, effective campaign planner
- Store and share all approved assets with your teams globally through a comprehensive Digital Asset Manager (DAM)
Discover how BAM can supercharge your employer brand like never before – get in touch today, or arrange your personal demo.