The Role of Loss in the “Great Resignation”

The pandemic brought with it “The Great Resignation,” where employees quit in record numbers. Many people have spent time trying to examine the causes of this movement, and there isn’t one reason for every person who has quit their job, but there’s one element I recognize at play: grief.

There have been almost a million deaths in America due to COVID-19, and each one of those deaths leaves an average of nine people grieving. That’s not even to mention the collective trauma many of us have experienced over the last two years.

Grief makes us reexamine our priorities. What once seemed like a perfectly reasonable way to spend our days no longer makes sense. Why spend time doing something that doesn’t matter? Or putting up with people we don’t like?

Grief can also drain our motivation. It’s tough to muster the energy to take care of even basic tasks when we’re grieving deeply, so it can feel like drawing from an empty well when we show up at work.

Grief makes it hard to focus. Many people describe feeling like they’re in a fog, especially in the immediate aftermath of a loss. They can’t remember whether they’ve done something or not, and tiny words on a form swim in front of their eyes.

It’s important to understand that each person’s experience with grief is unique. No two experiences are the same, just as no two relationships are the same. Interested in learning more? Check out the interview I did with Holly of Golden Heart Grief.

I am hopeful that we can learn from this experience and put some things in place now (granted, too late for millions in America) that make the workplace more accommodating to people grieving a loss. But we have a long way to go.

I recognize these impacts because I experienced them myself, and now I help people manage the tasks on their plate after a loss: when it doesn’t feel like a priority, when you can’t muster up the motivation to do it on our own, and when you find it hard to focus. Check out our Services After a Loss to learn more about how we can provide practical support during this time.

Compass Coordinators is your problem-solving partner here to help you navigate in uncharted waters. We’re not attorneys, financial professionals, or mental health professionals, although we partner with these experts when needed. Everything on this website is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.