Decide Whether or Not to Stay Employed with Your Current Insurance Employer
Q: It seems like many of my claim coworkers are resigning, and I am being asked to take on roles I don't want. I feel if I don't, I will be passed up for future promotions? Can you help?
A: While the great resignation has slowed down, one thing is for sure, employers in the insurance industry hire great talent. Remote jobs for the insurance industry have doubled since Covid, meaning the insurance professionals can look for jobs anywhere in the country. The combination of these historical events is driving employers crazy. The situation you are experiencing is happening everywhere, and the real reason behind it is rare; the pandemic has forced employers to implement new strategies that, in many cases, are more hopeful than helpful to their workforce.
Unprecedented times thankfully, come with silver linings. As an employee or job seeker, understanding that your employer needs you more now than ever before can be a catapult for your career. Until the pandemic is over, you may be asked to take on extra work or a different role. I advise embracing these roles as long as you work with a company and management staff that genuinely recognizes your effort and contribution. The high quit rate tells the story. Workers who wanted to quit their job before COVID were stuck in their careers while we flattened the curve in March of 2019. This year, the opposite happened. Jobs are everywhere, and many of your coworkers may be upgrading.
The best news I can give you is that you have more career leverage power today than ever before.
The most iconic quote from Spider-Man ever is, "With great power comes great responsibility." Take this power and excel in your career! Here are some things to consider.
Decide what your "must-haves" are in your current or future job. This is the hardest thing to understand, especially since employers are still trying to figure out what their "post" COVID workforce will look like. One thing we know, you have more options today than ever before.
People are quitting today because they are reopening offices. Maybe you want to work from home. How about a flexible work schedule, better management, more money, a job closer to home, a manageable caseload, or a clear path to upward mobility. You have your answer if your current company can meet most of your must-haves.
Do a "stay interview" with your manager. Request a stay interview with your manager before you decide to quit or take on a role that you don't want in the short term. In this meeting, ask the manager how they feel you are doing, what the future looks like post-COVID, and how realistic most of your "must-haves" are in the future. This is also a GREAT time to ask for a pay increase. While money is no antidote for an unstable work environment, companies do whatever it takes to keep their top employees. If you don't get the increase and do change jobs, they will not counteroffer (which is a true career killer).
Flexibility is the key. Once the virus is over, companies will take inventory of who is left standing, what changes they will adopt moving forward, and how they will engage their post-COVID workforce and attract new talent to their organizations. Your flexibility (doing things to help the team even if you don't want to) and production over the last twenty months of so much change is your golden ticket. It shows your current employer you're a team player who can make unprecedented changes to accomplish corporate goals. Great companies will recognize these accomplishments and do whatever it takes to make sure you are part of their post-COVID workforce in the career you really want. If you don't currently feel this, it may be time for another job.