LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
A Time for Contemplation — and Innovation
When I lived in Eugene , Oregon during the mid-2000s , Portland was already well on its way to becoming the city “ where young people go to retire ,” as labeled by the TV show “ Portlandia .” During my forays into the city , I felt the DIY vibes of youth and the bustle of organic farmers markets and crafts fairs , and spent lazy afternoons in coffee shops with friends . By all appearances , the other young people I saw looked free .
Ah freedom , how nice ! Back then I wasn ’ t quite ready for early retirement because I first had work to do . Now I ’ m 15 years into my career and ready to think about other opportunities . In the nearly six years I ’ ve spent as an editor at Comstock ’ s I ’ ve collaborated with some of the most talented editors , writers , designers and photographers in the business . But I ’ m off to join the Great Resignation , along with millions of other Americans motivated , or forced , by the pandemic to re-evaluate their priorities . Life is just too short to devote oneself to work , isn ’ t it ? The pandemic made many of us pause and say , “ Just give me a moment to think .”
Anthony Klotz , the psychologist who coined the term the Great Resignation , told Business Insider that U . S . workers are experiencing an existential crisis as our personal identities intertwine with our professions — unlike many other countries . “ We know that when human beings come into contact with death and illness in their lives , it causes them to take a step back and ask existential questions ,” Klotz said . “ Like , what gives me purpose and happiness in life , and does that match up with how I ’ m spending my time right now ?”
In August , a record 4.3 million workers quit their jobs , representing about 2.9 percent of the nation ’ s workforce , according to Bureau of Labor Statistics . Some are retiring early , others are choosing to stay home with their young children who can ’ t yet be vaccinated , and many others are leaving for new opportunities . Some have reached their limit and want to put their mental health first . Those in fields like technology and health care had extreme demands due to the pandemic “ likely leading to increased workloads and burnout ,” according to a Harvard Business Review report . And , of course , there were workers who died of COVID-19 . Ultimately , “ there are five million fewer people working than before the pandemic began , and three million fewer even looking for work ,” according to the New York Times . A Wall Street Journal survey reports that many economists predict labor participation might never return to pre-pandemic levels .
Women have dropped out of the workforce at much higher rates than men . If we want women to stay in their jobs we need — among many other changes — national paid family leave . Every day , mothers ( and fathers too ) are put in the position of having to choose between the needs of their families and their jobs . For a country that claims to care about families , the lack of national paid family leave is a disgrace and an inhibiting factor to a full economic recovery .
Employers are feeling the sting of all of this upheaval . A recent National Federation of Independent Business survey found that 51 percent of business owners have job openings they can ’ t fill . Workers have more leverage than they ’ ve had in decades . Employers are being challenged to navigate society , the economy and worker psychology as they are redefined in real time . This challenge will likely involve addressing issues such as compensation , training and promotion opportunities , improved office space design , flexible hours and retention programs , as well as investment in automation and a new dedication to supporting the mental health of employees . And that may all just be scratching the surface .
But employers first need to pause to do some contemplation too . It is in these pauses — rather than in the hustle of the day-to-day grind — that the seeds for true innovative thinking can arise . I hope that as we reimagine what modern work should look like , we pay attention to what younger generations have to offer .
Millennials and Generation Zers view jobs and careers differently than those who came before . They don ’ t necessarily possess the same expectations in terms of how much personal sacrifice they should make for a career or to what degree work should control their lives , or they want purpose-driven jobs that contribute to social change . It seems to me they yearn for intrinsic motivation to govern their career decisions , much like I have always wanted . I urge employers to listen to what their younger employees have to say . It ’ s not too late for older generations to find their own sense of freedom , and maybe the values of younger people can help lead the way .
For me , the pandemic has been the Great Reassessment . Although my own career has included plenty of grunt assignments and $ 10-an-hour small-town reporting jobs and was once halted due to a layoff during the Great Recession , overall it has been overwhelmingly full of fun and gratification . While I ’ m leaving a wonderful , high-quality publication in Comstock ’ s , I ’ m eager to see what else the future brings — and what exactly freedom means to me .
Sena Christian is the outgoing editor of Comstock ’ s . She will continue to freelance for the magazine . Read more at www . senachristian . com . On Twitter @ SenaCChristian .
Sena Christian Editor
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