The Great Resignation Why Is Everyone Quitting?

Like thousands of Singaporeans, you may have parted ways with your job or are planning to do so this year. Find out how three women navigated that journey, and get expert advice for moving forward with your resignation.

- Sasha Gonzales

Last December, global jobs portal Indeed shared the results of a survey it had commissioned, which found that 24 per cent of Singapore workers intended to quit their jobs in the first half of this year. The survey of about 1,000 Singapore workers aged between 16 and 55 also revealed that nearly half were unsure if they’d stay in their current job for the next six months.

The Covid-19 pandemic was found to be a major factor in the respondents’ decision to quit: 49 per cent of workers said it made them realise that they didn’t like their job, with a substantial number citing increased stress levels, heavier workloads, burnout and isolation as reasons for their unhappiness.

“The Great Resignation”, as it’s been called, isn’t unique to Singapore. Over the last couple of years, record numbers of people around the world have quit their jobs, with many questioning the role of work in their lives. Flexibility, better pay and benefits, mental wellbeing and work-life balance all topped the wish list for millions of employees.

“Our dissatisfaction with our work and work arrangements has always been there, but until now, we never really had the opportunity to address it,” says Paul Heng, founder and managing director of Next Career Consulting Group.

“When we started working from home in 2020, we got to experience something different. Many of us finally achieved work-life balance, and found that we loved spending more time at home. We realised that we could still put food on the table without having to return to the nine-to-five grind. This new reality led many people to rethink their careers, and take control of their professional and personal lives,” he explains.