Great Resignation

Definition

The wave of employee departures following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2021-2022, driven by demands for better pay, flexibility, and working conditions. When workers realized they had leverage.

Example Usage

Companies are still adjusting their compensation and flexibility policies in response to the great resignation.

Origin

Term coined by economist Anthony Klotz in 2021

Fun Fact

The great resignation wasn't evenly distributed; some industries like tech and hospitality saw 40%+ departures while others remained stable.

Source: Contemporary Employment and Economic Trends

Related Terms

Beginner

talent

A natural aptitude or skill, or in HR and recruiting speak, any human being with a pulse and relevant keywords on their resume. Corporate talent acquisition teams have elevated the hunt for 'top talent' to an art form involving bizarre interview questions and salary ranges that mysteriously depend on 'experience level.' The term makes employees sound like performing artists, which is fitting given how much acting is required in open-plan offices.

👥 Human Resources

Advanced

adverse action

Any employment decision that negatively affects a candidate or employee based on background check information, requiring specific legal notifications under the FCRA. It's when your past catches up with you in triplicate forms.

👥 Human Resources

Beginner

Direct Report

An employee who reports directly to you, making you theoretically responsible for their development while practically just reviewing emails.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

body shop

A staffing agency that provides temporary workers with minimal screening or quality control, treating employees as interchangeable units rather than individuals. The Walmart of human resources, if you will.

👥 Human Resources

Beginner

pip squeak

A colloquial and often derogatory term for a junior or insignificant employee, typically used behind closed doors by managers discussing organizational hierarchy. Not to be confused with a Performance Improvement Plan, though the employees might be headed for one.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

Level Band

A hierarchical grouping of positions at similar responsibility and compensation levels within an organization. The corporate equivalent of 'we all make roughly the same, don't discuss numbers.'

👥 Human Resources

Translate This Term

See “Great Resignation” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Intermediate

stoney

A nickname for someone who smokes weed so habitually that it becomes their defining characteristic and the main thing th...