There has been a lot of chatter about ‘The Great Resignation’ in recent weeks, but what does it actually mean, and should we be worried?
This new buzzword phrase refers to the ongoing trend which has emerged in the wake of the pandemic of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs. Employers across the UK have noted rising rates of staff quitting their roles in 2021 and many predict the trend is set to continue for some time.
With record levels of job vacancies across a variety of industries, it makes sense that employees find themselves in a position of power, with potentially more options than ever before on the table.
You would expect people would be scrambling for work following the economic atrocities we’ve faced over last couple of years, where so many have been hit hard financially, but it seems that in reality, the opposite is happening in a lot of industries.
Sectors in Scotland which really bore the brunt of the pandemic, such as hospitality and tourism, are amongst those struggling the most to recruit new staff, as many of those who previously worked in these industries have moved into different careers following extended periods of furlough or redundancies. There seems to have been a real shift away from these types of jobs, and as a result, many companies are now unable to hire quickly enough to keep up with demand.
Others have different motivations for quitting their jobs. Peoples’ priorities have changed. Those who have been able to work from home during the pandemic may have become so accustomed to the flexibility offered by this way of working that they simply do not want to return to the office. Employers are predicting a further rise in workers seeking new opportunities if bosses fail to continue the offer of full-time flexible working.
While I understand the reasons behind opting to work from home, I find the prospect of this becoming the norm extremely unsettling. The consequences on our town and city centres will be devastating if workers continue to work from home on a permanent basis. So many businesses have gone under as a result of loss of trading, and I fear this will only continue to worsen if remote working becomes the default.
The benefits of working from home are so often shouted about so loudly that some forget the downsides, and while I personally think a permanent move to working from home would be a big mistake for a whole host of reasons, it’s impossible to ignore this trend. If people are looking for flexibility, employers will have no option but to respond accordingly if they want to avoid losing staff in swathes.
Listening to staff will be key for employers in the coming months. Bosses need to engage with their teams and ensure they’re being heard. Those running businesses which are already experiencing staff shortages must tread carefully and avoid becoming so consumed with recruitment that their existing staff feel ignored and neglected.
Increasing pay is one way to boost staff retention, but the latest data and feedback from employees shows it isn’t always simply boil down to money. As I said, peoples’ priorities have changed, and they’re more likely to look for real purpose in their careers as well as job satisfaction and a good work life balance. Workers want their employers to take their wellbeing into consideration, and I believe this has become increasingly evident over the last two years as so many have struggled with feelings of isolation and adapting to turbulent circumstances. People want to feel supported in their jobs, and if they aren’t getting all of these things, there is plenty of opportunity for them to go and find a job elsewhere.
The loss of more staff could be devastating to some businesses, so steps must be taken by those at risk of experiencing the effects of this so called ‘Great Resignation’ to break the cycle before it’s too late.
I sincerely hope employers take these warnings as an opportunity to reset, listen to their staff and make changes, if necessary, in order to avoid a catastrophic exodus of staff.
Scotland’s robotic surgery revolution
Robotics has moved a long way from only being seen in movies and it is fascinating that Scotland has been at the forefront of this now global industry for some time.
As you would imagine, the United States, South Korea, China and Japan, amongst others are major players in the sector, but here in Scotland an AI revolution of sorts has continued to gather pace as scientists and engineers continue to lay the foundations of an innovation pipeline in robotics and AI across the country.
Work is underway on a £22.4M national Robotarium, set to open in Edinburgh in 2022 and Heriot-Watt University continues its journey to becoming one of the world’s leading centres for robotics.
A leading medical College in Scotland’s capital has recently been unveiled as the home of a revolutionary new surgical training hub for pioneering robotic surgical training techniques.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh will house the state-of-the-art robotic technology at its Nicolson Street headquarters, where the facility will help to train a nation of Scottish surgeons seeking to specialise in robotic-assisted surgery.
What would perhaps once only have been imagined in a sci-fi novel, it is hoped that the robotic surgery system will transform the way cancer operations are carried out, with the potential to significantly reduce time spent in hospital and helping to cut down on the current backlog of patients waiting to be seen across the country.
The Scottish government obviously believe in the benefits that robotic surgery will bring, having invested in 10 da Vinci Surgical Systems to be rolled out in hospitals throughout the nation, with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh providing the focal point to train surgeons in using the tech.
It’s an exciting time for robotics, with the widespread benefits it can bring both commercially and to the people of Scotland. Long may it continue.
It Made Me Laugh
Scots love a good party, especially in their favourite watering hole, so I’m sure there was some jealous glances at the news last week, when 61 people were stuck in an impromptu lock-in down south.
With blizzards causing three metre snowdrifts, customers were left trapped at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire for three nights as Storm Arwen caused havoc across the country.
Staff from the pub, famed for being the UK’s highest, alongside having to serve drinks found themselves pitching in to dig a tunnel from the front door. However, the roads remained impassable due to fallen power cables with revellers to bunk down for several days.
Although food was on the house, unfortunately drinks still had to be paid for. Perhaps us Scots wouldn’t have wanted to be there after all.
It Made Me Weep
Homelessness continues to be a blight on our small nation and with the weather continuing to cause havoc up and down the country, the winter months are literally a case of life and death for those sleeping rough on our streets.
I was deeply saddened to read that Scotland recorded over 250 homeless deaths just last year, more than half of which were drug related.
Official figures show an estimated 256 people died while experiencing homelessness during 2020, an 18.5 per cent rise on the 216 recorded in the previous 12 months.
What’s more, Scotland’s rate of homeless deaths was the highest in Britain in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
As we look forward to the festive season, please keep in mind those less fortunate than us.
