Just under an hour's drive northwest of Washington, past sprawling suburbs and a mile-long corridor of breathtakingly opulent mansions, it suddenly becomes rural.
A firm country lane that branches off the main road through a grove of woods and rolling field marks leads to a charming estate of older buildings that make up the Rocklands Farm winery and pub.
Winand von Petersdorff-Campen
Economic correspondent in Washington.
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Stephanie Carillo described the place as a real idyll in a blog post in 2018. At that time she was working as a wine seller in a tourist restaurant. "I've been working here for two months now and I've loved every single minute so far," she said enthusiastically at the time. She later became co-manager of the winery. In March of last year, she gave up: In the end, it was all about one question: "Why fight like a dog when the pay is lousy." She quit and has been trying to expand her small sideline ever since. She sells imported wine online.
America has been experiencing a huge wave of layoffs for months. It doesn't come from the companies. It is the workers who are resigning in droves. In November 2021 alone, 4.5 million gave up their jobs. This corresponds to 3 percent of all employment relationships, in October there were 4.1 million terminations or 2.8 percent. Americans are suspected of being more likely to leave their old jobs than security-minded Germans, but voluntary layoffs have never reached such proportions in the 20 years since the statistics were collected.
Economist Betsey Stevenson roughly divides quitters into three categories: the frustrated, the dreamers, and the opportunists.
The frustrated work for minimum wage, have rude bosses and no support when they need days off for themselves or sick children.
The dreamers have felt for some time that the job does not fulfill them.
The pandemic gives them reason to question their career choices.
The opportunists simply take the opportunity presented by the numerous vacancies and improve.
Stephanie Carillo fits best into the dreamer category, albeit not quite clearly. Because she was frustrated too. The pandemic has accelerated her decision, it has been brewing for some time. Unlike many restaurants, the winery had a good year. It established an online shop for wine, meat and cheese. According to her, Carillo had to deliver wine cases in addition to her management tasks. At times, the job wouldn't let her go seven days a week.
The virus forced management to implement the changing requirements for face masks, distances and permitted occupancy of the health authorities.
Added to this was the concern of not finding enough staff for the hospitality and finally the fear of infecting oneself.
“Covid,” says Carillo, “made one thing clear to me: life is short.
Why waste time here?”
“People are really fed up with it”
Usually, in times of crisis, Americans tend to stay in their old jobs longer.
In addition, terminations and new hires usually go synchronously.
This time, however, many Americans are quitting while hiring falls.
The number of vacancies, on the other hand, remains at a record level.
Observers speak of the "great resignation".
That sounds like self-abandonment.
But it also offers opportunities.
Gabby Ianiello would be classified in Stevenson's category as an opportunist, in the value-neutral definition of someone who seizes their opportunity.
She has positioned herself as the chief influencer of great resignation, millions have seen her videos on TikTok or follow her podcast "The Corporate Quitter - helping ditch the nine to five".
She gave up her job as marketing manager for commercial real estate at the beginning of 2021 after six years.
Instead of the great resignation, Ianiello speaks of the great re-evaluation.
In the pandemic crisis, people reassessed their priorities in the face of cool employers who anyway do not give them any paid sick leave, hardly any opportunities for advancement and little room for development.
In addition, there are “ridiculously high prices” for petrol, real estate or food,