BLUF

It has been called the Great Resignation, but it has several names and might just refer to people who, as a result of COVID, are reassessing what they want out of life.

Summary

One of the changes—or phrases—COVID-19 has brought with it is 'the Great Resignation'. This new phrase relates to workers throughout the world who are rethinking what they want from life and, as a result, might be resigning from their jobs. However, some commentators have their doubts, see: Australia's 'great resignation' is a myth — we are changing jobs less than ever before (theconversation.com) 

 The phrase is contested, and there is no shortage of alternative names for this possible phenomenon. For instance:

  • Fast Company tells us it should be called the Great 'Reprioritization'. 

  • At LinkedIn, it's referred to as the Great 'Reshuffle'. 

  • A division of the US Commerce Department believes it should be the Great 'Recognition'.

  • Business adviser Rishad Tobaccowala calls it the Great 'Re-Invention'.

  • On the self-publishing platform Medium, it is referred to as the Great 'Realization', the Great 'Questioning' or the Great 'Change-Up'. 

Why do people keep renaming this concept? A few companies seem to be hitching their brands to the phrases, but, for the most part, much of the new phrasing seems more like an effort to make sense of some of the changes taking place in the workplace. It appears that workers aren't just quitting; they're rethinking what they want out of work and life in general.

Learn more about the great resignation and consider whether it is a reality or a myth.

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