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‘The great resignation’: The ambivalences of the liquid employee facing a consumerist work relationship

Author

Listed:
  • Vincent Meyer

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Jean-Denis Culié

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Xavier Philippe

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Thomas Sorreda

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Jean-François Garcia

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Luc Tessier

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

Abstract

In early 2021, many workers in OECD countries, especially France, decided to resign, a phenomenon commonly known as ‘the Great Resignation'. Based on 41 interviews with employees who voluntarily left their jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis and building on the work of Zygmunt Bauman, our research unveils the emergence of "liquid employees", trapped in a vicious circle of consumption. Organisations consider employees as consumer goods, and in return, the latter become consumers of organisations through frequent job-hopping. Our findings also highlight how this consumerist work relationship is embedded in a process of adiaphorisation of organisations and managers and how resignation represents more of a necessity than a choice for liquid employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Meyer & Jean-Denis Culié & Xavier Philippe & Thomas Sorreda & Jean-François Garcia & Luc Tessier, 2024. "‘The great resignation’: The ambivalences of the liquid employee facing a consumerist work relationship," Post-Print hal-04972054, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04972054
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2024.11.008
    as

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