Corporate Burnout Is Just The Start for Many Workers
It wasn’t until recently that we’ve been able to talk openly about corporate burnout. In the past, workers were made to feel it was a normal and expected part of the job to put in long hours, endure constant stress, and never be able to put work away. Many workers were even reluctant to question these supposed norms, fearing there would always be someone else willing to take their place. Behind the scenes, however, corporate burnout took many forms: chronic depression, feelings of emptiness, weight gain, substance abuse, physical exhaustion, irritable outbursts, mental fatigue – just to name a few of the many associated symptoms.
Many factors may contribute to corporate burnout, too – heavy workloads, long hours, unhealthy work-life balance, or feeling like you have no control over your work. Indeed, research suggests many workers feel this is a result of unclear job expectations, dysfunctional workplaces, lack of support, and feelings of isolation at work. The Mayo Clinic put together a list to ask yourself if you think you are experiencing corporate burnout: Have you become cynical at work? Do you have trouble finding the motivation to get started for the day? Is it hard to concentrate? Are you dissatisfied with your achievements? Have you become irritable with co-workers and clients? Any of these can be a sign you are suffering from burnout.
Fortunately, corporate burnout is now being talked about in the mainstream. In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized the affliction in the “International Classification of Diseases.” And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, workers have left their previous jobs in record numbers, in favor of new employment opportunities with healthier work-life balances. More than ever before, American workers are fed up with the unnecessary and unrewarding demands of corporate jobs, and are seeking out more meaningful, rewarding, and downright fun career paths.
The Great Resignation
While corporate burnout isn’t new, the events of the past two years have led us to what’s known as “The Great Resignation.” In 2021 alone, about 47.5 million people voluntarily quit their job – an unprecedented record amount – looking for better work during the pandemic. Even now, this trend shows no signs of slowing down: currently, about 40 percent of employees are considering leaving their job, according to a report in Fortune magazine.
So why are workers quitting their jobs? A Pew Research Center study found most workers cited low pay, a lack of opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected at work as the top reasons why they left their places of employment. Respondents in the survey listed they were looking for a better work-life balance and more flexibility. If we’ve learned anything the past two years, it’s that long-standing issues with corporate workplaces were exacerbated, and came to a boiling point, during the pandemic, leading to record shifts in the American workforce.
Franchising Is The Answer
Leaving the corporate world behind, American workers are increasingly choosing to realize their dreams of small business ownership and be their own boss through the benefits of franchising. Case in point: over 17,000 new franchise locations were added in the US in the past year, according to the International Franchise Association.
“Overall, it has been a long and difficult time, but the franchise industry has made it through to the other side,” Forbes magazine wrote. “Now, as more and more people look to take control of their destiny through entrepreneurship, and customers return to their pre-pandemic habits, it is an incredibly exciting time to be a part of the franchise industry.”
Let’s look at why franchising is the preferred choice for aspiring entrepreneurs. For one, franchise owners have all the freedoms of making judgment calls and decisions that are right for their business, while at the same time, having the backing support of a franchise network. To that end, franchisees truly have unlimited profit potential. With a proven strategy and solid business plan in place, franchise owners are provided the groundwork for their investment. With unlimited training and support on operational aspects like technology and marketing, franchise owners have the capacity to focus on growth.
Sport Clips Haircuts is the Perfect Franchise to Fight Corporate Burnout
Sport Clips Haircuts has a long and proven track record of helping entrepreneurs seek greater freedom, a more flexible lifestyle, and a solid foundational future. It’s why so many aspiring entrepreneurs have abandoned the corporate world and chose to invest in Sport Clips as a path to business ownership.
How do we do it? Sport Clips’ business model is manager-style, meaning you work on – and not in – the business, hiring store managers who oversee day-to-day operations. As a result, you have the freedom and flexibility to grow your business, develop and implement marketing strategies, and take care of administrative duties on the back end. Team Leaders are expected to spend only 10-15 hours on their stores per week, which allows for the opportunity for multi-unit ownership.
“Sport Clips was designed from day one to be a multi-unit opportunity,” says Jim Atkinson, vice president of franchise development. “This was never set up to an individual unit where someone buys a job for the rest of their lives. Our business model is very simple: we cut hair. We built our business model to scale, and we have all the resources to scale quickly and effectively. We know when you should add resources and when to build additional infrastructure. Whether you want to scale up to three stores, five stores, 10 stores, or beyond, we have a plan that can help you get there.”
Own A Sport Clips Franchise Today!
If you’re burned out in the corporate world and want all the freedoms of owning your own business, Sport Clips is the best bet investment for you. American workers are demanding more out of their careers, and Sport Clips offers a flexible, rewarding, and healthy work-life balance with the opportunity to earn big. To learn more, visit our research pages here or request more information by filling out our form here.