Is Millennial/Gen Zer Angst Behind The Great Resignation? We Risk A Lost Generation Unless We Address The Mental Health Crisis — Springfields of Rejuvenation

Is Millennial/Gen Z angst behind the viral The Great Resignation, where record numbers of those under 40 are quitting their jobs, without a clear purpose on what they would do next? The problem of attrition among the workforce in the United States and elsewhere is so acute that corporates are struggling to fill open positions, despite hiking salaries. Moreover, ghosting or the practice of not showing up after being hired has dealt a Double Whammy to the employers, already reeling under The Great Resignation. Indeed, the situation has alarmed Business Leaders so much that Big Tech CEOs like Satya Nadella and Sundar Pitchai have formed special groups to investigate and fix this problem of mass attrition.

So, what exactly is driving the Millennial/Gen Zers to simply “disappear” from the workforce? Is this due to the pandemic induced a sense of “weirdness” that has made everyone edgy, and more so the younger generations, who are still in the process of “finding their feet” in workplaces? Is this the result of the post-pandemic “blues” brought on due to WFH or Work From Home and Remote working arrangements, that suit older workers, but leave the young vulnerable in the absence of “handholding” and “face to face” onboarding and mentoring that are so crucial at the start of their careers? Otherwise, why would the 18 to 25-year-olds face so much stress and mental health issues that they are burning out even before they settle into their first jobs?

We need to urgently address this mental health crisis afflicting the Millennial/Gen Zers as otherwise, we risk a “lost generation” of workers, troubled and listless, that can harm the competitiveness of our economies, both now and more so, in the future? Even in India, where Millions of Youth are “desperate” for jobs, there has been another Great Resignation of sorts, in a desi style, where nearly half of the eligible workforce have simply stopped looking for jobs. Moreover, even celebrities such as Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have had to “drop out” of Olympic events due to mental health problems. All these do indicate that we have a serious problem on our hands.