Economy

Surge in resignations as employees defy bosses on return to office

Recruitment agency says September was busiest on record as more people leave jobs

Sigmar said workers were voting with their feet and leaving jobs that won’t show them flexibility

Sat Oct 16 2021 - 05:35

Resignations surged last month as offices reopened and employers began demanding employees return to the workplace, according to Sigmar Recruitment, which has reported record job placement numbers for September.

The recruitment agency said workers were voting with their feet and leaving jobs that won’t show them flexibility.

"The great return is causing a mass exodus," claimed Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig, founding director of the agency. "The reopening of offices in September has prompted a new surge in resignations as Ireland now faces a talent crisis."

“This last 18 months has seen employees demand greater flexibility. The request to return to the office by employers in September has prompted employees to reconsider whether they recommit or resign. Many are resigning,” said Mr Mac Giolla Phádraig.

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Sigmar has reported a record number of job placements for the third quarter, with figures up 20 per cent on the same three months a year earlier. September job orders in particular were three times higher than any previous single month in the company’s 20-year history.

“It was somewhat unusual not to see demand abate over the summer months. Indeed, demand continued to increase over the summer, resulting in September’s record results. September also saw a rate of job requests up by a multiple of three, a trend that has continued for the first two weeks of October, indicating more growth again in the fourth quarter,” said Mr Mac Giolla Phádraig.

“This last 18 months has asked big questions of us all, mainly how our working lives interact with our lives and how we identify with our working lives. In the absence of a workplace we’ve reassessed the balance between who we are and what we do, resulting in lesser commitment to our working selves and therefore to our employers,” he added.

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