Burnout, Changes in Work Environment Such as Remote and Telecommuting
Increase in Companies Building Housing for Employees
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] As American companies face a severe labor shortage, pop star Beyonc? has attracted attention by releasing a new song that captures the spirit of the United States' "Great Resignation" era.
According to CNN on the 22nd (local time), Beyonc?'s latest single "Break My Soul" has resonated with Americans who have quit or wish to quit their jobs, earning the nickname "anthem for the Great Resignation" online.
In particular, the lyrics "I just quit my job. The company really makes me suffer. I can't sleep at night" struck a chord with many. Since the song's release, netizens have posted comments such as "Beyonc? told us to quit our jobs," "I sent my resignation email just like Beyonc? said," and "After just one hour of work, I understand why Beyonc? told us to quit."
CNN reported, "Beyonc?'s song expresses the desire to break free from the socioeconomic fatigue following COVID-19," adding, "People who want to reject the culture of clinging to career advancement resonated with Beyonc?'s message."
Labor economist Nick Bunker said, "Beyonc?'s new song reflects public perceptions of quitting and what is happening in the current labor market."
Since early last year, American companies have been experiencing a severe labor shortage. Factors such as worker burnout, changes in work environments including the spread of remote and telecommuting, and rising hourly wages have also influenced the resignation trend.
As a result, more companies are building employee housing as part of welfare measures to secure talent.
On the 22nd (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, "In the U.S., where labor shortages are severe, more companies are directly building affordable employee housing to retain talent."
According to the report, JBS USA, the U.S. branch of the world's largest meat company JBS, is running a program to build and supply employee housing across the country with an investment of $26 million (approximately 33.38 billion KRW). The company is also constructing homes in Cactus, Texas, where its meat processing plant is located, offering houses priced at $180,000 (about 230 million KRW) each.
Walt Disney announced last month plans to build 1,300 affordable homes on an 80-acre (about 324,000㎡) site near Walt Disney World in Florida. They added that some of these homes will be available for theme park employees.
Medical equipment manufacturer Cook Group previously announced in April that it would build 300 single-family homes in Indiana over the coming years to address employee housing shortages.
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