LOS ANGELES—Chris Dyer calls the Great Resignation, the “Great Reflection” of workers across the country leaving jobs in droves. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the number of people quitting their jobs has surged to record highs, per data from the Department of Labor. At least 4.3 million people quit jobs in August, per the monthly department survey, representing about 2.9 percent of the workforce. 

“Workers are reflecting on their lives, not just their jobs,” said Dyer. “The Great Reflection gave workers time to recalibrate and realize that they have more power in the workforce thanks to opportunity, technology and change. Remote work is a key driver in the changing dynamics of work. The future of work is flexible.”

“The phenomenon is being driven in part by workers who are less willing to endure inconvenient hours, compensation, or conditions because they know there are ample opportunities elsewhere,” Eli Rosenberg writes. “The numbers add another data point to a surprising aspect of the pandemic: that workers are emerging with more leverage, as many employers say they are struggling to staff up”

“Employers struggling to staff up need to take part in the Great Reflection and recalibrate too. Company culture and benefits matter to workers,” said Dyer. “Society is changing and employers need to change with it or they will continue experiencing hardship in staffing.” 

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Chris Dyer is the founder and CEO of PeopleG2, where he manages 30 full-time remote employees and 3,000 contractors. PeopleG2 is routinely ranked one of the best places to work and has been listed as one of Inc.’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies. Having made the transition to remote during the recession in 2009 with stunning success, Dyer is now a world-renowned expert on remote leadership and productive company culture. His commentary is featured regularly in leading media outlets such as Fast Company, Forbes, Inc., BBC, NBC and The Telegraph. Dyer is the author of Remote Work: Redesign Processes, Practices and Strategies to Engage a Remote Workforce.