Fifteen months after the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic when unemployment was at a record 15%, one of the biggest problems small business owners are now facing is that they can’t find new employees for their company. What has happened here?
Some people blame the shortage on the $300 extra federal unemployment benefits that people are receiving. This theory was debunked when a review of states that did away with this extra benefit showed now sign of a drop in unemployment.
My personal theory on why people aren’t looking for work is that post- pandemic, people’s priorities have shifted. Seeing all the fear COVID brought or having the opportunity to spend more time with their families, people decided they want to live their life differently.
Your employees no longer want to live to just work. Many people are reprioritizing their life to do something else. Business owners need to understand this if they are to find the best and most loyal people.
Working 80 hours a week is not good for the employee or the business because they will soon burnout and you will have the cost of replacing them.
So when you look for new employees, culture fit becomes even more important. In your interview process, you are asking the wrong questions. You need to ask is –
“How will this job fit into the other parts of your life?”
As small business owners, we can no longer ignore the effect an employee’s personal life will have on their work. This is because in the future, they will be working more remotely or from home. Personal priorities will interrupt the day.
Few non retail or manufacturing employees will work a straight 9-5 any longer.
They will be available to work longer hours, but interrupted by personal obligations during the day. As a small business owner, you no longer “own” the employees time from 9-5. Shifting your thinking (and that of the employee) from a time orientation to a results one will benefit everyone.
