{"id":2542,"date":"2021-12-16T14:36:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T06:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2542"},"modified":"2021-12-17T15:23:36","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T07:23:36","slug":"great-flirtation-why-employees-are-casually-job-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/great-flirtation-why-employees-are-casually-job-hunting\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Flirtation: Why employees are casually job hunting and what employers can do about it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Employees don\u2019t have to be actively looking for and applying to jobs anymore. Whether it\u2019s a recruiter getting in touch with them or a job alert appearing on their phones (and tempting them with an \u2018easy apply\u2019 button, LinkedIn and other career-related social media platforms have revolutionized the world of recruitment. So much so that this casual job hunting has resulted in a new buzzword: \u2018Great Flirtation\u2019. In this <\/span>Pacific Prime UK<\/span><\/a> article, we\u2019ll dig deeper into this growing phenomenon and give you an anectdote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Corporate<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u2018Great Resignation\u2019 and the \u2018Great Flirtation\u2019 are two sides of the same coin<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a record number of employees are quitting their jobs and moving on as they began reevaluating their lives and careers in a phenomenon that is known as the \u2018Great Resignation\u2019. As <\/span>a Guardian article reports<\/span><\/a>, almost one in four UK employees come under this category with those in the manufacturing, construction, tech, and logistics sector being those most confident about job changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So why is this happening? Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic created a large number of vacancies that are now being filled so employees have plenty of options. Secondly, employees who have faced heightened burnout caused by the pandemic are also looking elsewhere for roles that are more compatible with their needs, particularly when it comes to work-life balance and employer support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Employees aren\u2019t waiting to be burnt out<\/span><\/h3>\n

A growing number of employees are not waiting to be burnt out before calling it quits. They are leveraging the hot job market by casually job hunting and swiftly changing jobs to increase their pays and perks, including but not limited to employee benefits like flexible working arrangements.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, employees are cherry picking the role based on their values and goals. For example, many climate-conscious Gen Z\u2019ers and millennials are prioritising employers that put climate action at the heart of their operations (i.e. by greenifying their employee benefits offerings) and implementing a range of diversity and inclusivity initiatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Further reading<\/strong>: Did you know that aligning employee benefits with diversity and inclusivity goals is a growing trend? Learn more about it in our <\/span>Global Employee Benefits Trends Report 2021<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reversing the prevailing narrative\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

For decades, the prevailing narrative has been to stay in one organisation to climb the corporate ladder. As such, many employees avoided switching jobs as often as they may have liked for fear of how it may come across on their CV\/resumes and impact their career growth. However, this framework gives all the power to employers. But now, things are slowly changing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Employees have got a taste of freedom and flexibility during COVID-19\u2019s shift to working from home and are keen to forge their own paths. This change in mentality has resulted in employees being more open to casually job hunting and increasing their bargaining power when it comes to salary, benefits, and flexible working arrangements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organisations should appreciate and support employees before it\u2019s too late\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

All of this is bad news for employers. In a job market that\u2019s increasingly tilted towards employees, it can be difficult to attract and retain stellar candidates – the backbone of any successful organisations. Particularly given the challenges and disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic brought, talented employees can be what makes your organisation innovate and thrive in a post-pandemic world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not all doom and gloom. Organisations can go above and beyond to show employees that they are appreciated and that their concerns are heard, as well as actively support employees in reasonable ways. Do you have an employee who is struggling with their child caring duties? Ask them whether increased flexibility would help. Or do you spot a promising fresh graduate employee? Promote them before they look for growth elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In general, here\u2019s how you can appreciate and support employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Help employees thrive in their role<\/span><\/h3>\n

Give employees plenty of opportunities to learn and grow in their roles, as well as offer performance feedback and career mentorship. Where it\u2019s deserved, match employee potential and talent with promotions. This will motivate employees to do their best and ensure they don\u2019t stagnate in their roles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Facilitate a good work-life balance<\/span><\/h3>\n

The reason why flexible working arrangements are desired by employees is because they want more freedom in where and when they work, and be able to schedule work to fit around their personal lives and achieve a better work-life balance. For instance, a parent might want a break in the afternoon to pick their kids up from school and continue working well into the evening.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Be fair when it comes to remuneration<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the end of the day, employees come to work to earn a living so don\u2019t make them quit before you raise their salary or increase their perks. Be fair when it comes to employee remuneration, and offer competitive employee benefits by researching what other companies in your sector offer and surveying your employees on what they\u2019d like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to offer competitive employee benefits? Get in touch with Pacific Prime UK today.<\/span><\/h2>\n