‘Just Show Up and Shut Up!’ ‘Nope, I Quit.’

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What It’s About: I’m struck by the number of surveys out there emphasizing how much employees expect “work from anywhere'' flexibility, and are fed up with the long, time sucking, wasteful commute. Even if you can fill the long ride to and from a workplace with audible books, podcasts, your favorite tunes, phone calls to mom,and the like, it doesn’t change the disgust one feels knowing a significant percent of the day is a carbon producing, often frustrating, non value added experience. Interestingly, a recent Canadian survey conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of the International Workplace Group, noted that only 12 percent of respondents would be willing to commute more than 15 minutes per day. And then there is the recent Korn Ferry survey, noting that a whopping 82 percent of people expect to quit their jobs within the next six months.

So What?: “Closed due to staff shortage.” “Expect slower service today due to staff shortage.” I’ve literally seen both of these signs posted on the doors of businesses this last week. And I’m not talking about fast food places. We are moving to a whole new era of talent shortage in almost every market. If employers want to absorb even greater talent pressure, simply continue to expect people to show up and shut up.

It’s kinda cool to have a campus in downtown Vancouver, San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle or Boston. However, any residence within a 15 minute commute of those campuses are often not affordable to most workers. Hence the stupid commute. So why expect or demand that daily work means what it has over the last few decades? Consider “Think Again,” as Adam Grant implores us to do in his recent book.

Now What?: All leaders and the HR community could benefit from a complete work assumption re-think. It’s more than just determining if you are a hybrid company or not. What are thoughtful, talented employees looking for? How effective are you at making the work experience malleable to the unique circumstances of EVERY employee? The idea of people primarily being a transaction widget, expense line item, and that they simply need to adjust to whatever the employer serves up as a work platform is going to rapidly dissolve. Yay! Employers that can create a sense of true personal belonging through a great culture will deservedly thrive.

One Millennial View: I’d like to consider fighting for an increased sense of gratitude for our work at all levels. Where is it? Leaders, please help us feel a sense of gratitude doing great work for you. Workers, please earn that sense of gratitude and be passionate about it. I’m not naive enough not to realize there are cute, little, best-selling bumper stickers that state something cynical like “work sucks!” Or that we can be conditioned to just do soul-sucking labor to pay the bills because “that’s life.” Maybe for some!? However, how could it possibly be 82 percent? Is that you?

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

‘Just Show Up and Shut Up!’ ‘Nope, I Quit.’

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