~2.9% of U.S. workers voluntarily quit their jobs in Aug.

For every unemployed American, there are 1.2 job openings. It’s clear as day employees want more…

• Employees want respect + belonging at work.
• Employees want a hybrid working arrangement.
• Employees want managers who care for them as humans.

The good news first — Employees are literally telling us what they want. Now the bad news — I’m not sure if companies are listening. 

Here’s some interesting research from Mckinsey. Companies think employees are quitting because of:

❤️  Poor physical and emotional health.

💵  Lack of compensation.

⚖️ Work-life balance.

While this is true, this doesn’t paint the full picture. According to the same research, employees are also quitting because:

• 54% don’t feel valued by their manager.
• 52% don’t feel valued by their companies.
• 51% don’t feel a sense of belonging in the workplace.

The pre-covid playbook doesn’t work anymore. Bold challenges will require new thinking. At the very minimum, we need to start:

✅ Paying people fairly.

✅ Train leaders on how to deal with a complicated world.

✅ Make sure every single person has a voice in the room and Zoom.

If employees get these ingredients, they vote with their hearts and minds. They will run through walls for you. They will go hard in the paint. They will forgive your mistakes. They will fight for you.

If employees don’t get these ingredients. They will vote with their feet. They’ll walk and never look back.

There’s a new playbook in town. It’s not written by the employer. It’s written by the employer AND the employee together. The best companies are doing this now. They’re playing in the majors.