Trending: Conscious Quitting – Employees Resigning over Company Values

Conscious quitting as a trend: employees resign because of company values

Quiet Quitting: The New Phenomenon in the Workplace

Quiet Quitting has become the new norm during the pandemic. Employees now draw clear boundaries between their personal and professional lives, becoming more independent, and confident. They are now standing up for their personal values and needs. Companies that do not meet these requirements are at risk of losing their employees. This has led to the development of a new trend called Conscious Quitting.

Measurable Development in the UK and US

According to a recent study conducted by KPMG and the 2023 Net Positive Employee Barometer, American and British employees tend to quit when their values do not align with those of their companies. They are primarily concerned about social justice, environmental protection, and diversity. Most British employees (82%) surveyed value shared values with their employers, and approximately 30% of 18 to 24-year-olds have rejected job offers because of insufficient ESG measures. The Net Positive Employee Barometer revealed that a significant number of employees from the UK and USA are dissatisfied with their company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. A third of them have resigned for these reasons already.

Conscious Quitting Will Reach Germany

Conscious Quitting will soon impact the German job market. According to surveys conducted by Stepstone and the European Investment Bank, young people in Germany want sustainability and climate protection to be a priority for companies. Environmental protection, social justice, and diversity also play crucial roles. Given the high rate of inflation and the challenging economic situation, employees are willing to look elsewhere for work.

Anchoring Team Values in the Corporate Culture

Companies should be wary of Conscious Quitting. Even those that have strong ESG or DEI measures should evaluate whether their transformation matches the needs of their employees. An employee survey should be conducted to identify areas of improvement. Although it will not be possible to address all suggestions, identifying the most common ones can help develop appropriate ESG and DEI activities. The corporate culture should integrate the values queried by employees on social responsibility and organically permeate all organizational levels, from top managers down to the teams.

Actively Involve Employees

Employees should participate in the organization’s transformation process. They should be asked for their opinions, and their contributions should be encouraged to motivate, engage and raise awareness of their companies’ efforts to create a better environment. Companies should also provide the required knowledge and training for employees to participate in climate and environmental protection-related processes. At DEI, in particular, employees should be trained to identify unconscious bias. The company values should also change to meet the employees’ values as they change over time.

Conclusion

Conscious Quitting has developed from Quiet Quitting and will soon become the norm in Germany. Companies must anchor team values in their corporate culture and actively involve employees in the process to prevent it. It is vital to listen to employees and address their concerns to retain them, attract talent, remain competitive, and meet sustainable and social responsibility objectives.

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