I Quit During “The Big Quit”

The Great Resignation. The Big Quit. The Covid Reshuffle. 

Whatever you want to call it, I did it. I quit at a time when apparently, so did everyone else. 5.5 million employment separations as of Q1 2021 to be exact. I didn’t mean to be a statistic during what is turning out to be the biggest wave of resignations in history. It just happened. But I don’t regret it at all.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION

I really wasn’t unhappy with my former job. 

That isn’t to say I didn’t have complaints, I did. However, I also didn’t decide to quit just because everyone else seemed to be doing it. The global upheaval we all experienced in 2020 was a game-changer, and I watched my friends and family flourish with companies that made massive changes during the pandemic. That got my wheels turning. 

I wanted more flexibility, more innovation, and most of all I wanted to see how I could thrive in that environment. I needed something different and I knew Red Branch was it. In the short time I’ve been here, I already know I made the right decision.

YOU WANT IN? *be a part of something amazing* 

REASON TO QUIT #1: WORKING FROM HOME IS AS GREAT AS IT SOUNDS

I’m a social butterfly, so remote working had me worried for a minute. But daily video check-ins with the whole team, zoom calls whenever I need some ‘in-person training’, and the huge personalities of every person that works here mean I’m never missing out on those colleague bonding moments. 

Working from home wasn’t an option for me in the past, but now that I’ve experienced it, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. And I’m not the only one. Did you know…81% say they would be more loyal to their employer if they had flexible work options? (Source)

REASON TO QUIT #2: FLEX SCHEDULING IS SCHEDULING FOR ADULTS

Me, during onboarding at Red Branch Media: “You mean to tell me that as long as I’m getting my work done, you don’t care if I clock in at 7:05 or even 9 am?”

I’m a working parent. So the mornings when my daughter announced she was simply incapable of walking down the stairs herself, or my son’s shoes have seemingly disappeared into another dimension, I knew I’d be starting my workday off late, frazzled and defeated. 

Read More #WERKBRANCH: Working Moms, Work Without the Guilt

Now, I shrug. 

I roll with the punches a little easier. I know my work will still be there waiting for me, and I can even make up that five minutes at the end of the day. When so many of those leaving their current employer happen to be working mothers, I don’t even need to ask myself why. The numbers speak for themselves.

• Employees with no access to flexible work are nearly two times more likely to have poor or very poor mental health. (Source)
• Companies allowing remote work have 25% lower employee turnover than those that don’t. (Source)
• 76% of workers would be more willing to stay with their current employer if they could work flex hours. (Source)
• People who work remotely at least once a month are 24% more likely to be happy and productive. (Source)
• 40% of people feel the greatest benefit of remote work is the flexible schedule. (Source)

Or…they were tired of explaining to their bosses that they were late, yet again, because they were looking for their kid’s shoes. 

SURVEY SAYS? *Working moms get shit done*

76% of workers would be more willing to stay with their current employer if they could work flex hours. What else is causing employees to jump ship? Find out in @RedBranch's latest blog: Share on X

REASON TO QUIT #3: MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS AT WORK 

Voting was unanimous; the official buzzword of the 2020-2021 pandemic is: Burnout!

I completely understand that nearly every business in the nation was short-staffed. But, as just about every solid employee knows, when you’re good at your job, you usually get rewarded with more work. The last couple of years have done nothing but shine a spotlight on an already flawed system. In fact, nearly 30% of working professionals would quit if they had to return to the office after the pandemic and 65% of employees say remote work has positively affected their work-life balance.

Companies like Red Branch have recognized burnout as a huge employee issue, but also proceeded to stare down the barrel. From the flex scheduling to #MentalHealthMondays, it’s refreshing to see companies embracing the idea that their employees are humans. Now the human employees reward the companies by doing their best work.

Read More: The Road to Ultimate Productivity, As Told By a Total BadA$$, Maren Hogan

REASON TO QUIT #4: HAVE I MENTIONED THE FOOD YET?

Companies are embracing the casual and comfortable, and this takes shape in my absolute favorite form — food and drink. 

We’re celebrating our wins and losses on a zoom call — here’s a stipend for food. 

We’re having an end-of-the-day meeting — grab a glass of wine. 

This meeting is going to take a while, so we sent you snacks. 

I don’t know why this wasn’t an understood part of work-life before. People eat! Companies are suddenly embracing that food-friendly stance and I for one am completely here for it. 

FORBES: Food Delivery is Now a Health Benefit?

Digital Content strategist, Ashlei, shares how and why she took advantage of the #GreatResignation like millions of other Americans along with finding her new role here at RBM. Read more in @RedBranch's latest blog: Share on X

REASON TO STAY HERE: THE PEOPLE ARE TOP RATE

The prescription? Remote Work. 

Side effects may include:  a bigger, better candidate pool. 

Gone are the days of struggling to train the neighbor’s friend’s daughter because she was the only decent candidate we had. My coworkers at Red Branch Media include one graphic design wizard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a content prodigy in Decatur, Georgia, and an SEO and growth mastermind currently hailing from Munich.

Folks, that’s in Germany. Red Branch Media doesn’t have to settle for second-rate employees because they treat the ones they have with care. Further, they’re not quiet about it. One of the main reasons I applied at all was because I have been following the company for years, watching how they promote both their company and the individuals in it. That’s called Employer Branding…and it works!

• When making a decision on where to apply for a job, 84% of job seekers say the reputation of a company as an employer is important. (Source)
• 9 out of 10 candidates would apply for a job when it’s from an employer brand that’s actively maintained.  (Source)
• 50% of candidates say that they wouldn’t apply for a job when the company has a bad reputation. (Source)
• 57% of employees won’t apply to a company with negative online reviews (Source)
• 76% of candidates actively search for why a company is an attractive place to work. (Source)
• 50% of candidates say they wouldn’t work for a company with a bad reputation – even for a pay increase. (Source)

What We Do at Red Branch Media: We Do Everything from A to B2B

THE GREAT RESIGNATION ISN’T COMPLICATED.

People are jumping ship in search of something better.

Reveal Global: You Get to Be Picky in this Tight Talent Market, Here’s How

Your new job may offer a better environment, better pay, or better support. But these are the same reasons people have been quitting their jobs since the beginning of time. The big reshuffle or as some candidates are calling it, the Great Opportunity, is more about finding a place that does more than treat employees fairly, but treats them RIGHT. Like adults with more than just work at the center of their lives. Professionals who can do great work and leave the office before 5. Parents who need flexibility (not even that much really!) to get it all done in a day.  

These are the things that drew me to Red Branch Media. I saw them paving the way with innovative treatment of their people. So far, I’ve loved every moment of this new adventure and I’m so glad I was a part of The Great Resignation.

Finding a new job in this climate doesn’t need to be scary. See how other Branchers have navigated the job market during the global pandemic.