We are living through an age of great uncertainty . Since the COVID-19 pandemic, wars and geopolitical conflicts, shifting foreign and immigration policies, economic volatility, artificial intelligence, climate change, and natural disasters have continued to affect how people view their lives and careers. Yet, most employees have little or no control over these events. Such uncertainty is also reshaping workplace behavior. During the Great Resignation , many employees felt confident enough to leave an unsatisfactory job. Later, “ quiet quitting ” described employees who remained employed but did no more than their formal job requirements. Now, another trend has emerged: “job hugging.” Concerned about layoffs, economic instability, AI-driven job displacement, or limited career opportunities, some employees are holding tightly to their existing positions, even when they are not particularly satisfied. At first glance, job hugging may seem like good news for employers. Lower turnov...
If you have ever worked in a restaurant or hotel, you have probably had this thought at least once: “Why does this place feel so stressful compared to others?” It is the same industry, similar roles, and sometimes, depending on where you work. So, what actually makes the difference? From what I have seen, it almost always comes down to one thing: How employees are treated. During my time observing and interacting with different hospitality workplaces, one thing became really clear to me. Some businesses treat employees as replaceable, while others treat them as part of a team. And that difference shows up in everything, from how employees act to how customers feel when they walk in. One of the biggest differences I noticed was during the onboarding process. In one restaurant I am familiar with, new hires were expected to jump right in with little to no training. There was not much structure, and asking questions sometimes felt like a burden to others who we...