How long will workers leverage for an employer last?
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic. From then on, I bet you have seen many signs on businesses and shops saying “help wanted” or “we are hiring.” This is due to the pandemic and covid 19 disease taking a toll on the workforce. Even with jobs and businesses giving higher pay and better work hours, there is still a gap in workers wanting to return and work for them. Since this pandemic started, workers have been quitting jobs. They want a time of self-reflection and what they want to do in their lives because they are “burnt out.” This has led to workers creating leverage over these employers due to employers needing workers more than they need them. I argue that workers’ power will not last much longer because as the pandemic conditions become safer, employers will gain ground. This is due to employees having to support themselves financially and greater competition amongst workers.
To add to the reasoning behind why workers’ leverage will not last much longer, Jack Kelly argues in the Forbes article, Why The ‘Great Resignation’ Is Greatly Exaggerated, “Now that a large percentage of Americans have received their vaccinations, states have loosened restrictions and opened up, and trillions of dollars from the federal government have been flooded into the economy, things look much brighter, and workers have become emboldened” (Kelly, 2021). Despite this, Kelly states for people not to quit their jobs because it’s too risky and they will have less negotiating power for the time they’re trying to find a new job. People will exhaust themselves to obtain financial support, leading to no choice but to find a job. For example, “without a current job, you can’t leverage the possibility of a counteroffer to gain a higher salary. You could be out of work for three to six months — or longer. When you interview, hiring managers will question your judgment. They’ll be concerned that you are too impulsive and may leave their company over some minor trivial matter as well. When you start looking for a new job, they’ll ask why you left. What can you say? You can’t complain that the boss was a jerk because the hiring manager will believe you’ll badmouth her too” (Kelly, 2020).
Whether it’s a bigger paycheck, more manageable hours, or a training opportunity offered to a person with few formal credentials, employees will always be working for employers. Further, as pandemics restrictions start to loosen up and financial support is lessening, people have no other choice than to go back to work.
In addition to Jack Kelly, other journalists also agree with the pendulum turning back towards employers because of the diminishing choices of workers. For example, in the article, The Great Resignation: Why more Americans are quitting their jobs than ever before, Bill Whitaker explains how “The pendulum of power may soon swing back toward employers, especially as workers who’ve quit their jobs deplete their savings. But Karin Kimbrough expects employees to cling to the flexibility they’ve fought for” (Whitaker, 2021). Here Whitaker explains that workers are getting leverage from their working conditions. However, Whitaker fails to explain the other complications that come with workers’ influence as far as what the bosses of the companies are going to do to make sure they keep the power with them.
Employers are doing all they can to help shift their power back to them and away from the employees. With all these other workers getting new jobs, going back to school, moving to new areas, and so on, employers are doing all they can to get these workers back working for them and bringing their business back to pre covid times. According to Elaina Morris, chief executive of Ascend Hospitality, a midsize restaurant company based in Bellevue, Wash, “Morris has resorted to sending her managers to Starbucks and Home Depot to scout out and poach employees. Some employers offer cash and other incentives to show up for interviews. Sign-on, retention, and referral bonuses are commonplace, even in industries such as fast food that have rarely needed to use such carrots before. Employers are customizing work schedules. Others are waiving job requirements, such as drug tests” (Lee, 2021). With employers doing all they can, it almost seems like they’re at the lowest of the lows “poaching” employees from other companies to work for them. It’s even coming to the point that Don Lee of the Los Angeles Times says in the article The COVID-19 pandemic is giving workers leverage over employers How long will it last?, that “If workers continue to gain leverage, it’s almost certain many employers will step up investments in labor-saving technology, which could boost productivity in the long run but also tends to funnel more of the benefits to owners of capital than to labor. Businesses also will probably press for a loosening of immigration to allow more workers into the country” (Lee, 2021). Even though employers are doing all they can to get employees back working for them, they don’t have to worry much longer. Employment rates will rise soon, especially with all these restrictions opening up and having no other choice.
With restrictions coming down and states opening up, workers and employees will have no other choice but to return to these jobs that need help to support themselves and their families. According to Jack Kelly and Why The ‘Great Resignation’ Is Greatly Exaggerated, “A quarter of workers plan on looking for a new job when the threat of the pandemic decreases, signaling a looming ‘war for talent.’” (Kelly, 2021). With that being said, the pendulum will swing back to the employers over a short amount of time, and the power will be back in their hands. When people are asked if they’ll leave if forced to return to work, they may honestly say “yes” at that point. However, they’ll soon realize it’s not such a smart move to leave without another job offer in hand if they give it a little time to digest. Workers are reluctant to return to the job force due to factors related to the pandemic, including infection risks, infection-related illnesses, and a lack of affordable childcare. Still, with a pandemic, restrictions loosening, and the world seeming to be opening up, they will have no other choice than to go back to work or find a new job. With that being said, I would say not to quit your job because there are too many unknowns involved in leaving without a plan. You do not know how long it will take you to get hired, you may spend down your bank account more rapidly than expected, and you do not know where your next job will be. All in all, Employers will gain ground as the environment becomes safer during this pandemic. Since employees must support themselves financially, workers’ power will not last much longer, and there will be more competition among workers.
Works Cited
“The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Giving Workers Leverage over Employers. How Long Will It Last?” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2021, https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-07-22/workers-gain-leverage-over-employers.
Kelly, Jack. “Why the ‘Great Resignation’ Is Greatly Exaggerated.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 8 June 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/06/08/why-the-great-resignation-is-greatly-exaggerated/?sh=6a747288bccd.
