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Sandy and Tara talk about what employee “loyalty” means – today and in the past – and how it seems to be performing a disappearing act. So what’s next? How do employers (re?) engage that loyalty? Or, is that even a reality anymore? And if not…how do employers make themselves attractive to a workforce that no longer values an engraved gold watch? Key Takeaways: In the 20th century, employee loyalty seemed to be real! Was that because of a desire for/expectation of a clear career ladder and retirement security? Or maybe because there were fewer employment options back then? There has been a significant shift in the balance of power and employees are making it clear they want more influence over their lives and how work fits in. As an employer, it’s time to let go of the assumption of loyalty from your employees…and to become comfortable with the concept that you can’t be everything to all your employees. Stop trying to tick ALL the boxes! We reference the book, “Workquake,” by Steve Cadigan. It’s a timely read as it examines current workplace trends and our prevailing narratives about the employee-employer relationship.

In this episode, we get into the nitty gritty around what the resignation experience is like from both an employee and an employer perspective. Resigning can be really daunting! And empowering. And both parties, the employee/er, have the potential to behave like jerks. We talk about how to make it a less jerk-y experience. Key Takeaways: If possible, really make sure you are ready to quit your job and that it isn’t an emotional-in-the-heat-of-the-moment decision. As the employer, remember that this could be really scary for the employee! They are likely nervous and have been feeling anxious about coming to you. For both sides, stay respectful and be present in the moment. Because you never know…maybe you’ll want to work at that same place again! OR, maybe as the manager you would really like to recruit this person again! A terrible resignation experience could really damage those options.

We are super excited to speak with Haleigh about some major decisions she has made in her life, and what steps she took along the way. Haleigh is kind, thoughtful, intelligent, strong, and giving. She has MANY skills! One of which is her mind-blowing ability to balance in adversity. Thank you for joining us, Haleigh! Tech note: We had some audio issues in this episode. Thanks to Kylie for eliminating most of them! And thanks to listeners for being understanding! Key Takeaways: Making a huge decision will likely be uncomfortable – choosing ME can be really awkward and lead to a lot of trepidation. The struggle is REAL. When moving to something super new, it is super common to feel like more of a hindrance than a help. Be open and tell trusted people you are open to new opportunities! There are a lot of people out there who want to pay it forward. Also: Haleigh and Tara have a unique relationship: they collaborated as surrogates! A major life experience for both of them. Surrogacy sisters!

We were very happy to have Vince Sobrino as our guest. Vince was super candid and shared with us about how he made a massive career shift on just a bit of a whim and completely upended his life! And…he has no regrets. Key Takeaways: Stay open to, and actively solicit, ideas from others! Working together will always make the team stronger. When motivation seems tough, setting shorter term daily goals makes life more manageable. Also, remind yourself what inspired you to make this big move in the first place! For Vince that means keeping his eyes on the prize – the love and respect for his family.  Vince’s three favourite songs to hit to in his classes are: I Wanna Know by RL Grime Boom by Tiesto Stay for It by RL Grime Vince and Rumble Boxing: IG: @sobrino_v, @rumbleboxing Website: www.rumbleboxing.com

So just when many of us have accepted and gotten used to the phrase, The Great Resignation, another one has emerged, and that is, The Great Regret. What we are hearing is that a lot of people who participated in The Great Resignation are now experiencing feelings of regret – that new position they went to is a bit of a let down and not nearly as awesome as they thought it would be. Bummer. Intriguing? Confusing? Unexpected? We get into it! Key Takeaways: Wait. Wait. Wait. Are these really “great regrets”? Or are they doubts? It is pretty common to have doubts! If you are feeling doubts, gather your support people – your boosters! Remember what motivated you to make such a big decision in the first place. And slow down. If you are going to make any sort of “great” decision in life, it’s probably worth putting in the time to really think about it!

This season of DBAJAW was inspired by The Great Resignation so we thought we’d spend some time digging into what it is, how it has evolved, and what it means to us. Key Takeaways: The Great Resignation feels like too narrow of a phrase to capture the deep reflection and nuanced decision-making that many people are experiencing. We like The Great Re-ignition, Contemplation, and Reset. It can be scary to contemplate life and career changes. Many people have found reassurance in being part of a collective. This moment in time is an opportunity for employers to contemplate and reflect on the past few years – to make decisions about how they want to continue to operate and to get curious about what is now important to employees. It is also an invitation to employees to take stock of where they are at, what is important to them, and how they want to spend their time and energy.

This time, we talk about Tara’s very recent decision to quit her job and make a departure, after 20 years, from the animation industry. This is definitely a Great Resignation story, and we discuss how this is both simultaneously uncomfortable AND reassuring. As of the publish date, Tara is one week into the rest of her life! What’s next?? Key Takeaways: Sometimes the biggest A-HA moments come when we see ourselves reflected by the people around us. Our careers can be really impactful to our identities. When we are so often asked, “So, what do you do???” – Who are we without our careers? If you are thinking about an idea and want to see it become more real, consider talking about it with your people! Talking about it may create more accountability. Annnnnd, if you are making a big life-change decision, find your “boosters”!! And talk to them often. Also: Is a “retirement job” something that other people are planning on?? Asking for a friend…

In this episode, Sandy shares her great contemplation story and the “what’s next” moments that led to her decision to trade in full-time employment for self-employment. A breast cancer diagnosis was the catalyst for change but it was a series of intentional decisions and small steps that added up to one big decision. Key Takeaways: “What’s next” is a journey The fear of “what’s next” is real and never fully goes away Sandy’s go-to question for deciding what to say yes to -- will this energize me or will this diminish/deplete me?

In this episode, Sarah shares a couple of her own “what’s next” moments. The first came after losing her job in the first year of becoming a new mom. The second came when she had a conversation with someone about her writing, and was challenged to make a choice between identifying as a writer and committing to it...or not. Key Takeaways: A s****y situation or experience can help us get clear on who we are and what we want. How you see yourself shapes how you talk about yourself, and can push you forward or hold you back. Sometimes one question can shift our perspectives. Be curious! Thank you, Paul Heywood.

It’s 2022! What the heck!!? We've been away for…awhile. First, it was our usual summer break. Then, we determined we needed a bit more time off. Hello Covid fatigue. Simultaneously, we were generating ideas for what season 4 would look like and we had a plan… But, it just wasn’t clicking. We felt uninspired. Over 3 seasons, we had talked about a LOT of jerky, and non-jerky, workplace stuff. If we felt maxed out on workplace jerks, had DBAJAW run its course? And if not, what’s next?? Eureka!!! WHAT’S NEXT???? Everyone is feeling it.  We are inspired to explore this, because we KNOW it’s really sitting with people, and it is heavyyyyyy. And exciting! And scary. And freeing! And…let’s talk about it. Welcome to season 4!!!

We are at EPISODE 83! And, we are wrapping up the end of our fully remote season 3!  We recorded on June 21 and were 3 weeks into the announcement of BC’s restart plan. If our COVID numbers continue in the right direction, by the time we return in the fall, we will be back to recording in person AND many of us will be back to office life. Many people have described these COVID times as “a great pause” or “a great reset” -- an opportunity to reflect on what really matters to us. That got us thinking...after 15+ months working from home, what might office life be like in the “AFTER” times? Key Takeaways...for this unprecedented season: We are super grateful for technology that has allowed us to keep recording through the pandemic. Doing the podcast has been important for our mental health. We are super duper grateful that people have kept listening to us! Thank you. And we are extra super grateful for Kylie generously providing her editing skills each episode. We We’ll be back in the fall! Take care!

We’ve talked about it before during various conversations -- the state of the world and racism, sexism, homophobia, and all the awful actions being perpetrated against people for simply being who they are have resulted in more and more businesses and organizations making efforts for equity, diversity and inclusion.  This is important. And companies say it is important.  And yet, it is very common that the people IN CHARGE of the business are not showing up. For sure, they have lots of responsibilities and are busy. And yet, if equity, diversity and inclusion are that important...wouldn’t they make it a priority? So, the question is, are leaders who don’t show up jerks?? Or just really, really busy? Key Takeaways: Human resources can’t do this alone!  “Showing up” can mean a variety of things. Here are a few:  Attend the important workshop!  Be consistent with your values!  Beyond talking about it...take action! Leaders are going to make mistakes. Let’s give value to what they do AFTER they know they’ve made a mistake.  Bonus Takeaway: “It’s easier to solve a capacity problem than a jerk problem. ”Wise words, Sarah, wise words.