Buckle Up!
The world of employment is changing. Institutions are crumbling. We are amidst a cosmic shift in how we organize and do our jobs. Workers want a decent wage but also the time to be with family and friends. They don’t want what my mentor referred to as the “iron fist in the velvet glove”. They want to be treated as adults, be shown opportunities to grow and develop, and be paid a fair wage. They want the freedom to choose.
Millennials started a new trend by jumping from company to company and role to role. I see two reasons for this. First, many Millenials and Gen Zers saw their families suffer during the recession. They have begun to say, “I want more than working for the man to the detriment of my life and dreams”. Once this generation was primed by the recession, a second major factor affected the job market: the Covid 19 Pandemic. During this period of lockdown, people reflected. People found their passion. Creativity and innovation soared.
Taking this one step further to a planetary view Earth has been under the influence of a phenomenon: Pluto has been in the sign of Capricorn for the last 15 years. On or about March 23rd, Pluto will enter the sign of Aquarius which–unlike Capricorn’s rules and regulations–is about freedom, opportunity, and kindness.
On the local level, management must hire and onboard new employees, perhaps also contending with a new employee ghosting after being hired. Management may consider inviting others on the team to be part of the hiring and onboarding process. In doing so, they’ll demonstrate that the organization is welcoming, caring, and has a relational base. What a first impression for new hires! Instead of command and control, workers want clarity of assignments and direction. Recognize that people want to be valued and appreciated. Kindness goes a long way.
Please put this into perspective for yourself. Think about the last 15 years of your employed life. Have you been on a treadmill whose elevation gets steeper while its pace increases? What workplace lessons have you gleaned from the Pandemic? How might you change your own attitude and behaviors to be more welcoming to new people and engaged with your workers? The workplace is changing. Are you buckled up and ready for the ride?