While grappling with issues like work-life balance, childcare, and parental leave, many parents left their stable jobs to pursue other opportunities and side hustles. The trend was called the Great Resignation, and some see it as the Great Re-Imagination or Great Reshuffling. Still, the fact is that a historic 47.4 million Americans have left their jobs in 2021, with workers citing low pay, disrespect at work, and no opportunities for advancement as the top reasons why they would leave. The fourth-most common reason was child care issues.
Parents Have Named Many Reasons for Changing Their Work-Life Balance
Parents who have left their jobs have named a variety of reasons for doing so, including more flexibility around child care. Two years after that, the aftermath of this Great Resignation shows that many have looked at corporate opportunities with remote work and more flexible hours. Others have embarked on their ventures, pursuing a more sustainable work-life balance. The question is if this shift in work-life balance is just the latest wave of something many parents know as hustle culture.
Startups Are Popular Among Those Seeking a Good Work-Life Balance
Some people have left their years-long careers completely after severe burnouts or upon reaching a plateau. So, wanting to prioritize their children and loved ones, some decided that a startup was the right option for them. The greatest accomplishment for a startup is to still be able to stand after the initial difficulties, and some manage to handle them very effectively. For people who manage to overcome adversity, the biggest benefit is that they no longer have to deal with long commutes and long days at the office or workplace. This also means more quality time left to spend with their loved ones.
Some have tried to start their new business with Kickstarter campaigns, while others looked for a job in a corporate environment where they could work at home. Many left their draining corporate jobs to start businesses in self-care, and some simply turned to self-employment. While that was the case for many parents, it was the exact opposite for others who transitioned from freelancing to a steady, full-time job, which improved their work-life balance.
Self-employment has certainly been an upward trend in recent years, but it should not be considered an easy path to success. It is still a matter of choice and not an act of desperation, but while it works great for some, it seems too tasking for others. Still, the rise in self-employment is a clear sign that some companies have to step up and offer more flexible arrangements for their employees, especially for parents and caregivers.