4 reasons why employees quit their jobs voluntarily

The Great Resignation

'The Great Resignation' shook the majority of organizations in the United States. Never before have so many Americans resigned voluntarily from their jobs. Research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that about 3% (read: 4+ million Americans) of employees resigned voluntarily in January 2022.

According to pension provider APG, the Netherlands experienced a similar ‘Resignation’ trend, although not a big one. There was only movement within certain industries such as the health-, event- and catering industry. Those industries consist of many people, which means the increasing pressure on the labour market exists here as well. 

A tight labour market

At the same time, the labour market in 2022 is getting tighter and tighter since the previous quarter, says RTL Nieuws. There are a lot of employment opportunities (there are currently 133 vacancies for every 100 unemployed) at the moment which makes it easier for employees to quit and switch jobs. 

Why do employees quit their job voluntarily?

In this article, you find 4 common reasons that answer this question.

1. Lack of appreciation

Everyone wants to feel proud about the job they have. Yet it is often difficult for employees to see how they are making a difference in their position or company. 

This leads to a decrease in involvement and a lack of motivation. Offering training or courses on a regular basis makes a big difference. But it is also important that employees receive the appreciation they deserve for the work they deliver.

2. Burnout complaints

Occasionally working an hour longer than required is recognizable for almost everyone. But the work-life balance is quickly disrupted when the employee's free time is structurally compromised. 

Combined with the growing number of employees that work remotely, this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of employees with burnout complaints. Eventually, this can lead to employees feeling the need to quit to better relieve themselves from the burnout.

[.callout-small] Read our blog on how to promote wellbeing[.callout-small]

3. Limited growth opportunities within the company

It’s still very common for companies to offer their employees limited opportunities for personal growth. Examples of growth opportunities include increased responsibility, a higher function/salary and personal development possibilities. 

For an employee, having a future perspective is of great importance. Employees who have been employed for a longer period of time or who have been doing mostly routine work, might get the feeling that they are not moving forward. As a result, they start to reach out to other companies who may offer the growth opportunities they are looking for.

4. Uncertainty about goals and expectations

It’s not sufficient for an employee to only 'roughly' know where they stand within the company. If the bigger picture isn’t clear, it creates the feeling that there is a difference between the expectations of the employer and those of the employee. 

Defined tasks and a measurable goal to work towards ensures focus and involvement. It’s best to make this clear to your employees from day one. Offering a good onboarding experience removes a lot of the uncertainty.

There you go! Those were the 4 common reasons why people quit their jobs. Do you want to prevent this? Make sure to read our blog about the components that play an important role in the success of your (hybrid) work environment.