This article originally appeared on SHRM.org.
The Great Resignation is really a Great Re-Evaluation of how we live, how we work and what we need to truly thrive. What people are resigning from is a culture of burnout and a broken definition of success. More and more people have come to see that chasing an idea of success based solely on the metrics of money and status isn’t sustainable. It’s like sitting on a two-legged stool — sooner or later we’re going to fall off. What we’re seeing is a shift to a way of living and working based on a more fulfilling and sustainable definition of success that adds to the first two metrics the third metric of well-being and resilience. People are realizing that the idea that burnout is simply the price they have to pay for success is a delusion.
At the same time, more and more companies are realizing that their most important resource is their people. They’re seeing the direct connection between the long-term health of their bottom line and the health and well-being of their people. We were in the middle of a global epidemic of stress and burnout even before COVID. Then the pandemic hit, and employee well-being and resilience shot to the top of the agenda for companies all over the world.
As we redefine success, we’re also redefining well-being. For companies, it’s no longer a perk or a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have — an essential strategy for success that must be embedded into the workflow itself. Well-being is no longer seen as a warm and fuzzy benefit but as a competitive advantage. Burned out employees, and the attrition that results — burn and churn — is expensive. That’s why every discussion about well-being is a discussion about business outcomes.
This is a time of constant change and disruption, but it’s also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how we work and live. And it’s why the work of SHRM is so important. SHRM is leading the way in redefining employee well-being and creating a more human workplace. Their research, insights and strategies, like Cause the Effect, unlock human potential and performance for both organizations and employees. Through SHRM’s partnership with its 300,000-plus HR and business executive members, they touch the lives of 115 million workers and their families around the globe.
That’s why I’m excited to announce I’ll be participating in the 2022 SHRM Annual Conference and Expo in New Orleans from June 12-15. Please join us to talk about how we can continue to redefine success and empower people to take charge of their well-being and resilience. Together, let’s Cause the Effect we want to see in the workplace and in the world. Register now to attend SHRM 22 in New Orleans or virtually at https://annual.shrm.org/.