Why Employees Quit - Five Reasons beyond the Paycheck with Shannon Mekeel | Ep. 52

Do you know why employees stay at companies? Turns out, it's not all about the money! I had the pleasure of chatting with the incredibly vibrant Shannon Mekeel. Together, we unpacked the critical role of empathy and humanistic management practices in retaining top talent. If you want a workplace where your team thrives, you definitely don't want to miss this episode.

Shannon Mekeel shared perspectives on the top reasons employees quit, and here's the kicker—money ranked last! 

  1. No Clear Career Path

  2. Stress or Lack of Resources

  3. Family Matters

  4. Work-life Balance

  5. Money (being the least significant factor, with only 9% of people quitting for money reasons)

According to a recent Forbes article, the primary reasons people leave their jobs have more to do with stress, lack of a clear career path, and work-life balance issues. Shannon and I couldn't agree more that companies need a major mindset shift. Think humanistic principles and systematized empathy. Imagine a workplace where middle management can take vacation without fear of reprisal or a desk overflowing with work upon return. This is the kind of organizational culture we need to cultivate—a culture where employees feel valued and supported, both inside and outside the office.

One of the most inspiring takeaways from our conversation was Shannon's advocacy for more moms in corporate America. She believes that maternal instincts bring a unique brand of empathy that our stressed-out workplaces desperately need. As Shannon put it, "Empathy is what's going to save us." It's about time we listen to this wisdom and create environments where employees can truly thrive. So, if you're a business leader, manager, or HR professional, this episode is your playbook for how to attract and retain talent in today's competitive job market. Thanks for tuning in, and remember, a happy workforce is a productive workforce.

About Shannon:

Shannon Joy Mekeel is a proud USAF Veteran and in 2023 when this book was written, she was a marketing professional living in Florida who got fed up with inefficient processes, exasperated coworkers, and angry customers while also dealing with her husband's prostate cancer diagnosis and her youngest son's precarious graduation from high school. Shannon is now an organizational leadership thought leader, and the owner of SIM Consulting Services, where she shares her passion with organizations that need a healthy dose of empathy and want to fundamentally improve their culture and bottom line.


TAKEWAYS:

  • Corporate America needs more moms 

  • Empathy is what will change our world. 

  • We are more alike than we are different. 

Show Notes

Contact info:

sjmconsultingservices.co