Robert Half has identified a problem for employers as their workforce return from its winter vacation. A survey of 620 Australian hiring managers has found that over half (54 per cent) have had an employee resign within one month after they return from holiday – suggesting time relaxing was (also) spent re-evaluating their career options.
The survey suggests that some employees may be more prone to resigning after a vacation than others. This includes those working in the public sector, with 72 per cent of Australian hiring managers in the public sector having had an employee resign within a month after returning from holiday, as opposed to only half (50 per cent) of their non-private sector peers. Professionals working in certain states also appear to be more reluctant to return to their job than others, with research demonstrating that hiring managers in Queensland (63 per cent) and Western Australia (60 per cent) had experienced a higher frequency of employees quitting within a month of returning from their holiday than their New South Wales (46 per cent) and Victorian (46 per cent) peers.
“Reviewing career goals and aspirations can be challenging for time-poor professionals,” says Nicole Gorton, director of Robert Half Australia. “Holidays therefore provide an ideal opportunity for employees to reflect on the future direction of their career and assess their current job with a new perspective, prompting some to choose a different direction upon returning to the workplace.
“An employee’s conduct after deciding to resign from a role can say a great deal about their level of professionalism,” she adds. “Consequently, an employee who does not exit a company gracefully – such as failing to perform duties or speaking negatively about the manager – might be perceived as less attractive to future employers compared to other candidates who handle their decisions to leave with dignity and respect.”
Nicole adds, “The way employees give notice and handle their last working days could have a profound impact on future career prospects. While an unprofessional attitude towards quitting could burn bridges with potential future referees, a negative reputation could also quickly spread among professional networks.”
