📢. TWO WEEKS NOTICE 📢 The American job market has experienced the most significant job loss numbers in over 50 years. 38 million workers quit their jobs in 2021. Many refer to it as the “Great Resignation”… but we prefer the term, the Great Re-Evaluation – a time for workers to re-evaluate what they want for themselves, and their careers. It’s also a time for employers to re-evaluate their policies, and make changes to keep top talent! We asked our community to share their Great Re-Evaluation stories. Stories are anonymous. ➡️ Why did you decide to quit your job? I had been unhappy with my employer leading up to the pandemic. Many things were promised to me – a better work-life balance, a budget to hire more staff, a promotion. When none of these came to fruition, I realized it wasn’t going to happen. The pandemic hit, and my department was downsized from 14 to 4… 4 people to support the PR and global communications for a 23k-employee company. I worked 70-hr weeks. I cried when I woke up. I dreaded turning on my computer. I looked in the mirror, and didn't recognize the woman looking back at me. I had taken ZERO care of myself – my hair was a mess, my nails were gross, I had a caterpillar for eyebrows, but worst of all... the thoughts I was having were overwhelmingly negative. I am normally a happy-go-lucky person. I’m well-educated. And yet, I kept thinking to myself, ‘You need to do better. That's why you're not getting promoted.' I used to be confident and self-advocate. I became the master of my own pity party. I needed to break that cycle. ➡️ What was the last straw that made you decide it was time to move on? After surviving a downsizing and taking on more work, I thought I’d finally get that promotion during my review. I was given high accolades for supporting various business units during such a dire time. I didn’t receive a promotion. I work in a male-dominated industry, and I had it tough already. My boss (who was also female), told me that sometimes I need to 'influence men' to think that my idea is a good one, so that they share it with the rest of the group. In other words, she suggested I give my best ideas to a male colleague, and have him propose it… because that's the only way I'd see my ideas implemented. That was the last straw. ➡️ How did you quit? I walked into my boss' office the first day I had seen her in over a year and a half of working remotely, and told her I was done. ➡️ How did your boss respond to your resignation? She asked me what it would take for me to stay – a promotion, more responsibility? LISTEN, you have been telling me for 2 years that I was up for a promotion - it never happened. She told me 'You need to understand how budgets work...' PUHLEASE, I have my MBA. I understand budgets. As women, we spend so much time talking about lifting each other up, but I only felt belittled and demoralized by my boss. ➡️ Was there anything your company could have done to retain you? Absolutely not.
There are many ways for an employer to tell someone to get a new job, some of them are unintentional.
Sure, give them the best ideas - PAY WOMEN. PROMOTE WOMEN. PROTECT WOMEN. #breakthebias
This is particularly egregious. But, it's worth noting, that even for we men, it's often the case that one has to make someone think that an idea is theirs, in order to get any attention for it - particularly if you're dealing with senior management (by definition, their ideas are the only ones that matter, and the only good ones). As a white, male, MIT graduate, with decades of experience - often paid to be the smartest person in the room (i.e., outside consultant) - I've found it STILL the case that, if your conclusions are different than the customer's preconceived notions - they throw you out, unless you are very, very, careful to lead them by the nose to a conclusion that they can take credit for as their own. ALSO a very good reason to leave a company, or refuse to do business with a potential client. Life's too short.
No different that the situation where a woman shares her idea at a meeting only for a male colleague to co-opt as his own idea. Then everyone commends the male colleague for thinking outside the box and demonstrating great leadership potential. The post only highlights a variation of this common practice.
Wow, this is heartbreaking. I despise the fact that the workplace is still like this. I have hope for all of those re-evaluating and going through a career transition or a job change. My heart is with them.
This should be a podcast !!!
I am grateful that I have never experienced anything remotely like this before. I wonder what the world would be like if people lived like Jesus wanted us to live. He loves and respects women. He gave the task of delivering the most important message to mankind to a woman (Mary Magdalene, regarding his resurrection) and sends His mother around the world to influence men and women (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe). 9 million people converted to Catholicism after the Our Lady of Guadalupe apparition- talk about influence!
Wow. This is a powerful post. The first story in particular really resonates with me. I hope people are taking advantage of the employee assistance programs a lot of employers offer. These are difficult times for all, and if you struggled with depression and / or anxiety before the pandemic, you are even more likely to be hurting now. Know you are not alone. There are many feeling the same way you do! Please reach out for help!
The other one is, make them feel it is their idea so they don’t feel threatened. 😒. Nope. Their insecurities are not my problem. I say, but must be clear to point out not all men are as fragile, I’ve worked with some wonderfully supportive men as well as some not supportive ones.
Senior Treasury Manager
2yI feel like so many women, including myself and many of my co-workers, are so busy shouldering massive amounts of work that we don’t have time to self-promote. Top management will rely on us over and over to come through for them, and never even think to promote us. I hate to say it, but there is a stereotype that women will stay and put up with it and men won’t. In the past, I left 2 different jobs because I would get glowing reviews but when I asked about being promoted I was told a lot of excuses about company culture and budgets. How many talented people have to leave your company before you start to show your appreciation? Also, for some of you who still don’t get it, appreciation means money, not a free staff lunch. 😀