Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

James Herndon

Abstract

Millennials, also known as “the job-hopping generation,” are on the brink of becoming the largest generation in the workforce by 2025. In March 2020, a global pandemic was declared due to the spread of the virus known as COVID-19, which led to more than 5.3 million deaths globally. Prior research has been conducted concerning the job-hopping tendencies of Millennials, but previous studies have not incorporated the life-changing event of the global pandemic and how it may have changed the beliefs and attitudes of the Millennial generation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the voluntary job-hopping beliefs and attitudes among Millennials who worked entry- to early career-level jobs during the 2020–2021 pre-Omicron COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized a phenomenological approach with a sample of six voluntary job-hopping Millennials. Data for this study were collected through the use of interviews with a semistructured interview guide. This study was guided by Strauss-Howe’s generational cohort theory and Lee and Mitchell’s unfolding theory of turnover. The findings indicate that Millennials do not intend to job-hop as frequently since experiencing the global pandemic but are looking for an employer who aligns with what they value within the workplace. Implications for social change consist of employers re-evaluating the culture of their workplace, ensuring an equitable compensation package, providing a clear and obtainable path for career growth, and valuing a work/life balance. The results of this study may provide employers with a path of direction for retaining the longevity of Millennials in the workforce, deterring job-hopping among Millennials amidst the global pandemic, and reducing revenue loss due to turnover in the workplace.

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