Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Secret Statistics - How Many People Have Quit Their Job Over the Past 12 Months, and Why?

VERY Common!

What Percentage of People Have Quit Their Jobs Over the Past Year?  The Answer Will Surprise You

Whenever we think about the mass of unemployed workers in America, we immediately attribute the numbers to layoffs and terminations.  However, that may be only half correct.

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently reported that, in the Month of December 2010, a roughly 50% of job separations came about as a result of what have been reported to be voluntary quits.  That's an increase from December 2009, when "only" 42% of job separations were categorized as voluntary quits. Now, my experience tells me that some percentage of those "quits" were actually "quits in lieu of termination," but still...

These statistics suggest that between 5-7 Million of the 14.5 Million identified unemployed workers may have voluntarily quit their job!  Wow!  Here is a rather startling (to most of us, not the DOL!) excerpt from the attached DOL Article:

"Since February 2010, the proportions of quits and of layoffs and discharges at the total nonfarm level have been close. In December 2010, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 48 percent and the proportion of layoffs and discharges was 44 percent. For total private, the proportions were 49 percent quits and 44 percent layoffs and discharges. For government, the proportions were 33 percent quits and 51 percent layoffs and discharges."

Update from Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job openings, hires, and quits set record highs in 2019

This 2020 article states:

"The annual quits level has risen for 10 consecutive years. Annual layoffs and discharges decreased slightly over the year, from 21.8 million in 2018 to 21.7 million in 2019."

It also says:

"The annual total separations level increased from 66.2 million in 2018 to 67.9 million in 2019, another series high since 2001. Within total separations, annual quits rose from 40.3 million in 2018 to 42.1 million in 2019"

That means, if BLS is correct, that roughly 2/3rds of the people that were separated from work in 2019 were separated by their own choice!!!!

So we see that in both good (2019) and bade (2010) economic times, and at all times in between,  people are quitting their jobs.  Let's put aside those who quit to take new jobs, and focus on those who quit with no new jobs.  Why are they quitting? The answers are complex, and provide great insight into mankind.

First, there is little doubt that many of us who have retained our jobs have been overworked and underpaid over the years.  This has resulted from downsizing, and the advent of technology (which requires a whole different kind of time-consuming, never ending work (kind of like trying to maintain a viable Blog!)

What Are the Things That Cause a Performance Improvement Plan?

For those remaining after downsizing, the Ghost of ex-employee Jones still lingers, and you feel her presence everyday when you once again do your old job, and her old job.  Then, when you cannot complete all of the assignments that were provided to you (and who can truly do two jobs well for any sustained period of time?), you are criticized, demoted, put on a Performance Improvement Plan.   
UGH!

You start to take your work home with you, take it with you to that elegant dinner on Saturday night, take it with you to Church...Eventually, the stress is too great, the unrelenting criticism, both overt and sublime, becomes too much to bear, and you quit.  Click to see a great Article about this phenomena which, the author posits (and we agree) is sure to lead to a great migration of workers from one job to another as the job market opens up.

Principle, Anger or Peace of Mind Frequently the Culprits Behind a Quit

We All Seek Zen - Namaste!

This type circumstances reveals at least one thing about our nature:  we put our peace of mind first.  When anything, including our livelihood, becomes too much to bear, we are willing to leave it behind for a little peace of mind.  As the Beatles sang on the White Album, "I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind."

Many of the remaining quits fall into a different category - one we refer to as a Workonality Conflict.  It is when the boss is a real jerk, or a clique at the office leaves us feeling devalued, excluded, taken advantage of, unappreciated - and angry.  Workonality Conflicts are nearly impossible to resolve over the short term, and an employee is not protected under the law if he/she is subjected to mistreatment by bosses or co-workers (unless it arises out of discriminatory or retaliatory motive, type in "Hostile Work Environment" to learn more).  In many cases that we see, the quit could be avoided; indeed, sometimes it is the personality of the employee that exacerbates the environment.

Won't Keep the Lights On

Yet, once again, these quits often are in fact an attempt to find some peace of mind.  Sometimes, though, it is troubling to see employees quit their jobs in a sudden fit of anger over a situation that hardly warranted taking one step closer to the soup kitchen.  Typically, the employee says it was "a matter of principle."  To which one could respond, "Well, try having principle for dinner, or paying your mortgage with principle."  No, to survive we need principal first, and principle second.  These situations reveal another, less flattering aspect of our human nature - pride, anger and sometimes misguided principle can wreak true and long lasting havoc in our lives. 

When you are confronted with a Workonality Conflict, it is best to consider seeking counsel before simply up and quitting the job.  There are approaches, both social and legal, that can help you retain your job until you find an employer that truly respects and desires you.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER LINKS YOU MAY FIND WORTHWHILE:

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Unemployment Appeal Hearing in Pennsylvania?

Why Hire An Attorney for My Pennsylvania Unemployment Hearing?

How Do I Appeal Unemployment in Pennsylvania? I Was Denied Unemployment Benefits and Need to Appeal of Have Appeal Hearing

What Happens at an Unemployment Appeal Hearing in Pennsylvania?

BECAUSE I HATE YOU: The Reasons Why Many Employers Fight Unemployment Claims in Pennsylvania - and What You Can Do About It

Philadelphia Area Lawyer's Quick Answers to the Most Common Pennsylvania Unemployment Questions

Don't Quit That Job Pennsylvania Employees if You Want to Get Unemployment Compensation Benefits!

Pennsylvania Service Center for Unemployment Claims - Who Are These People, Anyway?

Unemployment Appeal Hearings by Telephone in Pennsylvania - The New Norm - And Why You Want to Consider Hiring Legal Counsel

Pennsylvania Unemployment Lawyer - Willful Misconduct Referee Hearings

I Want to Quit My Job and Get Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania


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