The so-called 'Great Resignation' is no workers' revolution, but an opportunity

THE trouble with jazzy neologisms is that the nuances get lost. As the so-called 'Great Resignation' roars through the US and piques excitement in Singapore, it has become something of a Rorschach blot: we think we are all talking about the same thing, when we're not.

With the US monthly quit rates smashing all-time highs since March 2021, observers are pouncing on hints that Singapore may be in for the same ride. A survey conducted last month by jobs portal Indeed, which found that 24 per cent of workers are intending to leave in H1 2022, has been widely cited. There has also been a slew of coverage on worker burnout.

We don't yet know how many workers who say they'll quit will follow through - but it doesn't seem to matter. Disgruntled workers are rooting for mass resignations, which would vindicate their grievances against long hours and work-induced anxiety. Employers are starting to sweat, with human resource (HR) gurus telling them to buck up or lose your troops.