Voluntary Terminations - Really

A recent ABC news article stated: “When an employee resigns from a job based on his or her own free will, it's known as a voluntary termination. An employee who voluntarily leaves an employment position may do so to take advantage of other employment opportunities, to escape an unfavorable work environment, or for personal reasons.”

Really! In this economy, people are resigning from one job to move to another. About a year ago, I remember an article in the Wall Street Journal that indicated the number of voluntary terminations (also call “quits”) had moved above the number of involuntary terminations (AKA Layoffs.) As a coach, working with folks dealing with transition between jobs, this was good news. The quits rate has maintained steady at 1.5% of total employment. In real numbers about 1.9 million people every month are voluntarily leaving their positions.
Why is this good new? Ask yourself, “Where are these folks going?” The are going to other jobs. That means that their old jobs may be available for you to fill. It also means that some companies that have taken advantage of the lack of open jobs and the surplus of workers will need to change some behaviors. It means that corporate America is starting to trust that the economy has in fact improved and they can start spending once again.

This is all good news... even if it’s not a perfect world where workers have three jobs to choose from and companies are enticing you to come work for them instead of Google. It’s an improvement over 2009, 2010 and 2011.

It’s so easy not to notice this “good news” with all the other (bad) news out there. I am not sure who started it but there is a force out there that is set on creating a mindset of fear and anxiety. I know, let’s call it “the dark side” to borrow from George Lucas.

We need to combat “the dark side” at every opportunity. Don’t listen to negative. Walk--no, run!--away from stinkin’ thinkin’. Turn off the news when you’re feeling blue, fearful, anxious! The most talked about commercial from this year’s Super Bowl was Chrysler ad featuring Clint Eastwood, “It’s Halftime America.” I was shocked to her people slamming the ad as a plug for corporate bailout. It was a commercial that created hope in its viewers. It said, Hey America, time to get back to work and tell the world we’re back.

So the heck with “the dark side” and shame on fear mongers. We’ve survived the worst economy since the Great Depression, this is something to be happy about. If you’re still looking for that next job... then you can be hopeful. It’s time to find our light sabers and remember that we are Jedi Knights and that you have value. The next time someone passes along negative, stinkin’ thinkin’ ignite your light saber and show them the light!