Scott De Long

While most of us blamed the great resignation on the ramifications of COVID-19, it was not the cause—it was merely the catalyst for a growing problem that started spreading long before the pandemic began. With some industries seeing as much as a 57 % turnover rate and with the vast majority of that turnover involving those between the ages of 18-35, the real cause of this phenomenon was that our younger employees did not feel connected with the job, or with the organization’s leaders. It is easy to blame the millennials and Gen Z for what looks like a lack of ambition or work ethic, but it is not they don’t want to work— they just don’t want to work for us! These young professionals and their philosophies are here to stay. We raised them to be free-thinking and independent, and they have not only become our employees, but they are also our customers. The fact of the matter is this: It is not them that needs to change, it is us that needs to evolve and adapt.