Co-workers Leaving? Should You Stay or Should You Go?

Your favorite coworkers keep leaving to grab other opportunities. Should you follow them out the door?

Sometimes, a sudden rush of departures doesn’t point to anything deeper. The strong post-COVID job market has led to a wave of resignations. Your company might be doing all it can to keep talent but is just caught in a tough economic situation.

However, a high turnover rate can point to underlying problems. Policies at your firm might be pushing your coworkers to leave. If that’s the case, you don’t want to be the last person left behind.

How can you tell the difference? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you notice a wave of departures at your employer:

Talk to the Departing Employees

To make an informed choice about your own career, you have to understand the decisions made by your departing coworkers. Did they have problems with your current employer? Or did they just receive an unbelievable offer from somewhere else?

Of course, sheer numbers will tell you some of the story. One colleague could leave because of an unmissable opportunity. But a stampede towards the exits suggests people are running from something rather than towards it.

Still, the more information you have, the better. Talk to outgoing coworkers. Learn why they left and what they have to say about their former employer.

This step has another potential upside. Conversing with your outgoing coworkers helps build your network. If you do decide to look for greener pastures, these former colleagues could provide the connection you need to find your ideal landing spot.

Meet with Your Boss

You’ll probably hear some choice gossip when you talk to your former coworkers about why they left the company. But you also need to know the other side of the story.

To get a nuanced perspective, talk to your supervisors. Let them know you’ve noticed the wave of departures. At the same time, get their views on the current situation.

You can assume your supervisors will give you a rosy assessment of the company. But you can combine this biased slant with what you learned from your former coworkers. Taken together, you should have a good idea of the truth.

Weigh Your Options

You’re trying to make a decision whether to stay at your company or seek a better situation somewhere else. You can’t do that in a vacuum. Even if your former coworkers have found success somewhere else, you shouldn’t make a rash choice to leave.

Instead, look around for other positions. See what’s out there.

You might find something you love and can depart your current job with a smooth transition. Or you might discover that your present position offers your best choice right now. In that case, stay put and keep looking.

Meanwhile, the departures around could open up opportunities. With so many jobs vacated, it might be a good time to pick up responsibilities or even ask for a raise. Your current job might not be worth salvaging, but you could find something better at the same employer.

To find out the best options for your career development, it helps to turn to an expert. A top recruiter, like SmartTalent, can review the market for you and steer you towards your best landing spot.

Contact SmartTalent today to get started.