More Than Half of Americans Are Rethinking Their Employer

The effects of working from home during Covid-19 is impacting the way a number of American workers look at the job market.

Beamery’s Talent Index found that more than half of Americans, 59%, are mulling the idea of quitting their jobs during 2021. Of those, 71% are examining their options because of poor leadership and management. An interesting finding: 64% of men are more likely to have considered leaving their job because of how their employer handled the pandemic, compared to 49% of women.

The survey also revealed that the pandemic has taken on skill sets, promotions, culture and feelings of value. More than one-third of respondents reported feeling isolated or undervalued at work because of their company’s approach to working from home. Meanwhile, 78% believe that working from home during the pandemic has impacted their personal development and progression in the workplace.

“On the heels of much change over the past year, employers no doubt face continued uncertainty in the months to come in anticipation of significant talent shifts,” observed Beamery CEO Abakar Saidov. “With this, there is a significant opportunity for employers to reimagine their talent approaches and respond to their employees’ concerns.”

Americans Employees More Dissatisfied

There were notable differences between American and British workers, Beamery said. Basically, Americans are unhappier.

• Americans are more likely to believe that the lack of face time with their employer has hurt their opportunities for promotion, 64% compared to 43%.
• Just 55% of British workers believe working from home because of the pandemic has had an impact on their personal development and progression in the workplace, compared to 78% of Americans.
• Americans are more likely to believe their company culture has suffered because of remote work, 74% compared to 60% of British
• Americans are more likely to have considered leaving their job because of how their employer handled the pandemic, 57% vs 44% of UK workers.

Saidov, and a number of others, believe all of this is happening in a time of, let’s say, talent flux. “The workplace landscape is changing, and talent pools are no longer limited to the geography,” he said. Leading companies are “actively assessing and transforming their talent management strategies to map to this new reality.”

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