84% - That's a lot of turnover!

[thyme4change]

money.cnn.com/2010/12/23/pf/workers_want_new_jobs/index.htm

New Year's resolution: I quit!

By Jessica Dickler, staff writerDecember 23, 2010: 7:39 AM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Employers watch out: Your workers can't wait to quit.

According to a recent survey by job-placement firm Manpower, 84% of employees plan to look for a new position in 2011. That's up from just 60% last year.

employees have sat tight through the recession, not even considering other jobs because so few firms were hiring. For the past few years, the Labor Department's quits rate, which serves as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, has hovered near an all-time low.

But after years of increased work and frozen compensation, "a lot of people will be looking because they're disappointed with their current jobs," said Paul Bernard, a veteran executive coach and career management adviser who runs his own firm.

Douglas Matthews, president and chief operating officer for Right Management, a division of Manpower, called the results "a wake-up call to management. ... This finding is more about employee dissatisfaction and discontent than projected turnover," he said.

Despite a disappointing jobs report last month, experts agree that the employment picture will likely improve going forward, although hiring will be slow.

Double life of the American worker

"A lot of people who have jobs are considering looking for new work this year," said Charles Purdy, a career expert at Monster+HotJobs. "I don't know if we're going to see a huge uptick in the number of jobs, but I do think we'll see a huge surge in the number of people looking for work, even among people who are already employed."

Austin and Lauren will be two of them. (Both asked that their last names not be used.)

Austin has worked as the general manager for a small manufacturing company for six years, but he has his sights set on a job with the federal government.

"I am definitely ready to make a move now," he said. "I want to change because I feel that I would be more successful and have more challenges working in a Federal agency representing the interests of multiple private small businesses."

Austin has applied to positions at the Department of Commerce, Homeland Security and the State Department. But until hiring picks up, he is maintaining his current employment while campaigning for his next career in the New Year, or what he calls "maintaining and campaigning."

Lauren wants to leave the marketing position she landed soon after graduating in May. She said she feels lucky to have any job at all, "but it's definitely not what I expected."

"I'm currently in an environment where I'm not learning anything and am not challenged by any of my work," she said. "It just makes me feel like I'm wasting my time."

Even with less than a year of experience under her belt, Lauren plans to look for another opportunity in 2011. "What I'm hoping with the new year is that since most companies do their budgets around this time, they'll have room for new employees," she said.

But Bernard warns that they shouldn't leave their day jobs too soon. "People need to have realistic expectations," he cautioned. "It could still take 10 months to find a job."


____________________________________________________

Are you planning on job searching next year?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Not me.

But I have a coworker who's announced to me that she's going to try for a different job within our dept. She likes working in our dept. but she landed the work of 3 people (well, 2.5 really) and is getting the pay of the lowest one. Admin. been saying they'd work on it but hasn't put any noticeable effort into it. I don't blame her for planning on going. She's got some serious DB skills we'll miss but she has to do what's best for herself.

[cubefarmer]

No, I love my job. I've been at this corporation for about 8 months. I do have a few disgruntled co-workers though.

[Deleted]

I think with the way the job market is there are alot of people who are working at jobs that are not suited for them and maybe aren't their ideal situation.

Its one thing to actually want to change jobs, its another thing to actually do it with this job market.

I'm happy enough with my job, but I know 3 or 4 people in my dept that would change given a nice salary bump.

[Clifford]

I had posted on YM before about my desire to get some time away from work. We are in the middle of our annual performance review/raise determination cycle. I asked my boss if I could pass on my 2.75% raise and get another week of vacation instead. He said that if he asked such a dumb question to HR on my behalf, that it would reflect poorly on him. Yes I will be looking, if only to negotiate some free time between jobs.

[thyme4change]

I hope 84% of the workforce aren't in ill-suited jobs. I would believe that 84% of people think they are in the wrong job for them, but I bet most of them are probably where they should be.

I think corporations have either struggled recently, and the workers have suffered, or companies aren't struggling but took advantage of the weak economy and done some things that are not very palatable to employees. I think this 84% stat is wishful revenge. After years of no raises or bonuses, cutting staff and reducing perks, employees think they can punish their employer by changing jobs. I don't know of too many work forces that have been immune to those practices, so I'm thinking that most people are going to find the grass isn't greener.

[Deleted]

The companies that have been treating people like crap and figuring they had no options are going to be the first to lose the good ones, and they'll deserve it. My employer has been pretty decent other than keeping compensation flat. It would take a lot for me to move since it would undoubtedly mean relocation.

[quotequeen]

Job interviews are among the worst experiences of my life, so probably not, unless I become really miserable.

[dianartemis]

I won't be. My company has kept health insurance w/o having us pay for the bulk of it. Compensation has been flat, but they haven't let any one go w/o cause. I hope next year is a better year.

[The J]

I'm sure a good chunk of those people aren't in ill-suited positions or hate their jobs, but they're willing to keep their options open.

[bean29]

I want better health insurance coverage. My company only covers me, I have a high deductible plan, and no dental insurance or disability insurance.

[pushingit]

People are also unhappy with various changes that have been made. 401K contributions cancelled, bonuses cancelled, raises halted, pays even cut. Employers are doing what they feel they have to do to keep the company viable, but those sorts of decisions do bite them eventually.

That's the thing about employees. They love to share in the good times, but don't like to share in the losses.

[ihearyou2]

Im always open for a move no matter how good it is where I currently work. I live for new jobs and opportunities and I'm going to look seriously in the latter half of 2011.

[Urban Chicago]

That's the thing about employees. They love to share in the good times, but don't like to share in the losses.

Well, employers love to share the pain, not the gain, so I'm not sure why it's a bad mark on employees.

[Epiphany]

I've been working on my portfolio and am investigating some opportunities. Companies can only hide behind "the economy" excuse for so long when some are posting very very good years. My problem is lack of opportunities where I live and an unwillingness to relocate. I don't have it bad but have been disheartened with the bad management and flat compensation for a few years now. If there is an opportunity I will go but yeah I do get the whole "grass is always greener " thing and I also agree many employees don't feel they should share in losses when companies struggle.

[mtshastawriter]

Personally, I think the future is to have more contracted labor and less W2 workers. I also think that health insurance is finally going to separate from employment at some point. (Hopefully sooner rather than later for those of us who prefer to freelance...)

I also see our overall wages decreasing in the US because labor everywhere else seems to be very cheap. (Not to mention the horrible state of schools in the US.)

[keiks]

i am happy at my job but my bf wouldn't mind looking elsewhere. he likes his job in terms of the people, the work, etc, but he is on 3rd shift with little hope of ever getting off of it. we just can't keep going like this - being in different schedules. in a better economy he would've been looking for a new job already but where he is at is steady and he has some (a little) seniority at this point. if he switched companies, there is a fear that he would be the first to go if things slow down, etc. this is a bad economy for taking chances, that's why people aren't switching jobs yet. and i dont think it's about unappreciative workers - at least not with my bf. but you can't sacrifice your entire personal life for your job either - if it's not the right job for you, it's not the right job.

[stillontheroad]

Neither my wife nor I are part of the 84%. I'm happy at my job, I feel like my pay and benefits are at least equal to what I deserve, plus the company as a whole is doing well (so I'm not too concerned about job security).

My wife should probably start putting feelers out to see if she can get something better - IMHO, she's underpaid considering how much her boss raves about her performance - but she's comfortable there, so she won't. To be fair, her compensation is okay when you factor in quarterly bonuses and the 401k match, plus she only has to work 37.5 hours a week and anything over that is overtime (too bad they never allow any overtime, though). Plus there may be promotion opportunities in the next few years if she does stay.

[Nazgul Girl]

I will be staying where I am. This will most likely be my last job. I get a 10% match on my 457 plan, 17.33 hrs. of PTO per month after Jan 1st, plus the usual holidays, all of the overtime at 1.5 hourly pay that I can handle or possibly want, respect from my department, small raises plus a little bonus once in awhile, and good investment choices for my retirement funds.

The best part is that I can get Blue Cross ( a Cadillac-style plan) that will go with me into retirement for only 20% of the premium out-of-pocket for me. I can't do any better than this job as far as I know. I also get dental and vision insurance.

So, I'm staying with a big smile on my face.

This is one of the last employers around that offers the old-style benefits, and each job opening which occurs has literally 400-500 applicants. People stay here for centuries. There's more gray hair around ( including mine ) here than at the salad bar at Olde Country Buffet ( just a little joke ).

[cpt3102]

I won't be changing jobs either. I work for a company where I get 401k match guaranteed pension, good health, vision, and dental benefits. Paid far 11k more in this job (in a rural area) than in my last in a large city. I live close to family, and enjoy working with my boss who is an amazing supporter. This is the first job where I've been able to "create" my position. I am a Sr. Financial Analyst for all of North America. My position is newly created, there is only one of this position and I'm the first to hold it, and am designing it day by day. Unfortunately I do the job of four people. I would like to see a raise, but if it happens it happens. I handle inventory in 3 US locations and 1 Canadian location. The opportunities for advancement are HUGE and I plan to partake at the end of this year... not a new company just promotion -- I hope. NY is happy with my progress, my boss speaks highly of my skills... I'm very happy! -- first job I've ever felt this way about.

My hubby -- he'll be looking. We do both work for the same company but I'm exempt he is not... he also works 2nd shift usually 10-12 hrs a day. We never see eachother and there's a company closer to home, paying more and hiring day shift... that's the goal =)

[cpt3102]

PS where is spell check on this board? I can't find it.

[The J]

you have to click on reply, instead of using the quick reply

[pushingit]

Dec 29, 2010 20:31:53 GMT -5 @cpt3102 said:

PS where is spell check on this board? I can't find it.

Use Google Chrome, spell check as you type!