A dangerous term hit my radar screen today, questioning the validity of The Great Resignation trend that we’ve seen these past two years.
I heard a headline on one of the morning newsmagazines that instantly made me bristle. In typical catchphrase-y fashion they teased, “Is it the Great Resignation, or the Great Regret”? Of course, the story only highlighted one woman’s story who had bounded around for the plast two years from Microsoft to Meta to another tech company. Of course, they blamed Gen Z. And, of course, they referenced a “new poll” in which “some” workers wished they had stayed at their old jobs.
Hmmm.
I, for one, have not talked to one person who regrets the decision to put their life, health, family and well-being ahead of their former job. Actually, 100% of the people I’ve talked to, coached, and studied with all agree, life still isn’t perfect. It never will be. And, yes, we are all adjusting to a new way of life. Maybe it’s starting a new role in an unfamiliar company. Or trying their hand at an entirely new profession. Or, like me, launching their own business.
But regret? Not so much.
The textbook definition of regret (the verb) is to mourn the loss or death of something. To miss very much or be sorry for something.
Maybe there is a tinge of grief over the loss of our former identities. But often those identities were tangled up in a ball of toxic workplace cultures, burnout, fractured family relationships, substance abuse, and depression. Many of us accepted that trade-off for the rewards of ego-driven titles, stock options, comfortable paychecks…golden handcuffs. There’s a reason we refered to them as “handcuffs.” Because, for many of us, they made it feel impossible to leave. Until…it wasn’t.
Now? We are lighter, more connected to ourselves. Brains are firing back up, discovering new talents, passions, skills and interests. We feel trusted and valued. We are earning the paychecks we need to fund a fulfilled, joyful life.
It is my hope that reporters and writers use caution when trying to create some artificial new term for today’s workforce and potential trends. Don’t discount what has happened over the last two years. I’m pretty sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
