🏃‍♀️ the great january escape (and how to stop it)

resignation rush? not in my office...

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Happy 2025 HR friends!👋

We hope you’re all as excited about the new year as we are, but unfortunately there’s no escaping what month it is. Yep, today we’re talking about the great January escape (aka the resignation rush)🧠 

No matter the size of your company, statistically it’s the busiest time of the year for resignations. How can we avoid this? And how can we keep the best talent energised about their journey with the business in 2025. 💪

In Today’s Edition

📅 Why January Makes Everyone Want to Quit


🛋️ The Break Room: Real Talk About Why Your People Are *Actually* Leaving (And What to Do About It)


📚 Human Readsources: Southwest sued for biweekly worker payment violations, Japanese store workers operate remotely through virtual avatars, Employers plan 3.3% merit raises for 2025.


It’s just that time of the year…

Ryan Gosling Dont Go GIF

You tell them Ryan…

The holiday magic is over, and January brings a harsh return to reality. Is it snowing like crazy with anyone else right now? I think we all need some more vacation days...


Job applications surge 22% this month, while replacing leaders costs a staggering "200% of their salary."


The good news? You can prevent your top talent from joining the new year job hunt - but you'll need to act fast.


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👋 Why January Makes Everyone Want to Quit


January isn't just about new year's resolutions - it's when your employees are most likely to act on their "should I stay or should I go" thoughts. After holiday bonuses clear and year-end reflections settle in, that nagging feeling about career growth (or lack thereof) becomes impossible to ignore.


The result? A whopping 22% spike in job applications that could leave your team scrambling.


The perfect storm of post-holiday blues, burnout, and economic pressure is making this January particularly spicy. When you factor in that replacing senior leaders costs up to 200% of their salary, this isn't just an HR headache - it's a serious hit to your bottom line.


Plus, those who stay behind often end up shouldering extra work, creating a domino effect of dissatisfaction.


But here's the good news: most resignations are preventable with the right approach. Start by scheduling career development conversations now (not during mid-year reviews when it's too late).


Create psychological safety so people feel comfortable sharing their frustrations before they become deal-breakers.


And most importantly, get serious about flexible working conditions. We can't always just throw money at the problem, and you can guarantee your competitor's recruitment team will be using that as a serious signing on perk.


🔗 Relevant links

👀 TLDR

TLDR: January's resignation rush is coming (hello 22% jump in job hunting!), and between post-holiday clarity and economic stress, your people are feeling more restless than ever about their career choices. Time to get proactive with those retention strategies before the "new year, new job" vibes hit your team. 🏃‍♀️

⚡ Takeaway and Try

  1. 🗣 ️ Schedule "Stay Conversations" with your high performers this week - don't wait for exit interviews when it's too late. Ask specifically: "What would make you consider leaving?" and "What keeps you here?"

  2. 📊 Pull your compensation data and identify anyone falling below 85% of market rate. Flag these cases for immediate review - it's cheaper to give a raise than replace them.

  3. 🎯 Map out clear career paths for each department. Show exactly what skills and experiences are needed to level up. (Bonus: Share this in your next team meeting)

  4. 🔄 Review your flexibility policies. If you're still counting WFH days or requiring "core hours," you're already behind. Draft a proposal for truly flexible work options.

  5. 💡 Start a "Quick Wins" list with your leadership team - identify frustrating processes or policies you can fix this month. Nothing makes people quit faster than feeling their feedback goes nowhere.


📚 Human Readsources

🏢 Southwest Workers Sue Over Biweekly Pay Schedule (HR Dive) - Southwest Airlines sued for paying manual workers biweekly instead weekly.


⚖️ Japanese Store Tests Remote Workers Using Virtual Avatars (HR Grapevine) - Japanese store chain uses remote workers to operate in-store avatars.


📊 2025 Salary Budgets Hold Steady at 3.7% Increase (HR Dive) - Employers plan 3.3% merit, 3.7% salary increases for 2025.


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Thanks for reading to the end and we hope today’s edition sparked some new ideas for your workplace! 🧠

We know you’re super busy and really appreciate you letting us into your inbox a few times a week. 😀

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