40: Percentage of workers who say they plan to leave their organization eventually over how the employer handled the pandemic

Advertisement

Two out of five employees plan to resign based on how their company handled the pandemic, according to a survey from SilkRoad Technology, a global software and services platform, and OnePoll. They polled 1,500 office workers and 500 C-level executives based in the United States.

What it means for HR leaders

The findings indicate a disconnect between executives’ view of their effort to support employees through the pandemic and what workers have experienced. While 86% of executives surveyed said their companies demonstrated commitment to employees last year, more than half of employees said they hoped their companies would provide more support.

Spring HR Tech is coming. Register here.

Although some employers have stepped up in terms of helping employees during COVID-19—with many relying on new or enhanced programs and benefits—workers largely say the pandemic is the most stressful time of their life and report soaring amounts of depression, anxiety, burnout and stress. Other research has indicated that employees dealing with new childcare challenges during COVID-19, particularly women, are considering quitting their jobs or leaving the workforce altogether because of difficulties being able to juggle both responsibilities.

Related: Mayer: 7 benefit trends to watch in 2021

Advertisement

“Ultimately, this tells us is that there is an opportunity to better support and enable employees through transitions, change or disruption, whether they are taking on a new role, taking on additional responsibilities or working from another location,” says Lilith Christiansen, chief strategy and product officer at SilkRoad Technology. “It’s imperative to have regularly cadenced communication and check-ins, ample training and clarity around performance goals and expectations to drive retention and deliver a better employee experience that yields results.”