Date of Graduation

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Management

Advisor/Mentor

Lueke, Sarah

Abstract

It is extremely rare for something to happen that impacts the entirety of the human population. Three years ago it did and it will continue to have lasting impacts far into the future. The COVID-19 pandemic was a massive global event that completely altered the world. Not only did the pandemic force people into new situations, but it completely altered the way people live.

This paper will explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment in the United States and around the world. It will review behavior patterns and relevant literature, include a personal interview with the researcher who identified the Great Resignation phenomenon, and provide a case study example of how one large organization adapted their employment practices as a result of the pandemic. While the pandemic itself and its initial shutdowns were temporary, it has had lasting effects on the way people live their lives and how they want to work. The purpose of this study is to provide a better understanding of how the pandemic altered work environments and employee expectations, and how employers can react as a result to increase their employee retention and satisfaction. The employment environment is not the same as it was three years ago and it may never go back to how it was before. It is important to understand the differences and to adapt in response in order to retain employees and remain competitive.

Keywords

Employment, COVID-19, Employee Retention, Employee Satisfaction, The Great Resignation, Hybrid Work

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