The great resignation is not a trend, it's a lifestyle. It's not one of those fads that everyone forgets within a couple of weeks, it's a move that can change your whole course of life. If you are not yet aware of this increasingly popular lifestyle choice that people are making then allow me to present to you a job offer. Or rather two. One is your traditional job, same 9-5, probably in a tier-1 city where commuting to and from your office takes at least an hour and home is just a 10x10 match box with sky touching rents. Other is a remote working opportunity, same field as the earlier one except the pay is a little less but you have the flexibility to work at any time from any corner of the world. If you chose the latter one then congrats, you became a part of the great resignation movement. To put it in simple words, people are realizing that their lives are more than just their job title or their pay scale. More and more people are resigning from their current job, many of them without having another job lined up to pay their next month's bills. In fact, 41% of the world's population is planning on switching their current jobs this year. But a question arises: Why?
The Epiphany
The reason for this shift in mindset is none other than <drumroll please> coronavirus and lockdown. When people were locked down inside their homes, they reconnected with their loved ones and realized what they had been missing all these years. Some started side hustles and grew it into businesses, thus not needing to work for others anymore. Some suffered the loss of loved ones, realizing the actual worth of life. All in all, people started seeing the bigger picture, thus saving themselves from a mid life crises or two and decades of chasing highs in the name of happiness.
India
While this is gaining more and more popularity in western countries, it is quite the opposite for India. Although a similar phenomenon has been seen in India's IT Sector but it is believed to be due to better opportunities being available and people leaving their current jobs for better ones. A sheer case of demand and supply.
But why?
After all, Indians are some of the most talented and hardworking people around the world. How else did Parag Agrawal became Twitter CEO.
One trend can be clearly seen that the great resignation is gaining popularity in mostly development western countries which provide some or other type of universal basic income. Therefore, even though they don't have another job lined up for them, they don't have to worry about next month's bills. This scenario is impossible in India. An India where migrant workers were left on their own after government imposed an unannounced lockdown around the country.
So is India ready for the great resignation? Probably not. Not until they realize their self worth and importance of a balanced life.