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Assignment

Research-driven Critique Essay on "How the cost-of-living crisis is fuelling job quits" Mohammad Zobaer Al Zoha posted Nov 14, 2023 5:19 PMSubscribePrevious Next This page automatically marks posts as read as you scroll.Adjust automatic marking as read setting

Do you know that in the current economic landscape, where rising prices and interest rates are reshaping the labor market, a notable shift is occurring? The persistent cost-of-living crisis is exerting pressure on workers, squeezing their salaries and prompting reconsideration of their professional trajectories. Traditionally, financial stress prompted employees to hunker down in stable roles, weathering economic storms. Surprisingly, a June 2023 PwC survey of 53,912 global workers reveals that 26% are contemplating leaving their jobs within the next year, fueled by the acute financial challenges, particularly evident in the UK. In the article "How the cost-of-living crisis is fuelling job quits" (BBC, 2023), an opinion piece written by Alex Christian, discusses the cost-of-living crisis, driven by rising prices and stagnant salaries-and argues it is prompting a significant increase in job quits. Moreover, Christian (2023) addresses how working parents are increasingly faced with the dilemma of childcare costs surpassing their salaries, making it financially advantageous to transition into full-time caregiving roles, intensifying a longstanding cost-of-living-versus-salary calculation. While the availability of open roles remains robust, the aftermath of the Great Resignation and ongoing cost-of-living concerns prompts individuals to seek improved salaries through new roles. Christian's (2023) argument intricately weaves together statistical data, expert insights, and personal narratives for a comprehensive examination of the diverse impacts of economic challenges on the workforce; however, it falls short in thoroughly addressing counterarguments and regional variations, potentially oversimplifying complex factors, and relying heavily on individual anecdotes that may not accurately depict broader workforce trends.

Firstly, Christian (2023) focuses on the UK and the US neglects a more global perspective. The author cites that "47% of UK workers said they had little to no savings left at the end of each month, with a further 15% also stating their household struggles to pay its bills" (Christian, 2023, para. 3). In essence, Christian's (2023) analysis does not extensively delve into the broader global economic context or how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting developing nations. A more robust examination of workforce motivations would involve considering various cultural contexts, and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the factors influencing employee behavior. In contrast, Whiting (2022) emphasizes worldwide impacts. Whiting (2022) states that the countries facing the worst effects of the crisis across all poverty lines, according to UNDP, are Armenia and Uzbekistan in Central Asia; Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa; Haiti in Latin America; and Pakistan and Sri Lanka in South Asia (Whiting, 2022, p. 6). Whiting (2022) illustrates real-life examples from different countries, highlighting the impact of the crisis on individuals. Additionally, Whiting (2022) discusses governmental measures implemented globally to alleviate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Thus, Christian (2023) has a more focused perspective on workforce dynamics in the UK and the US - which makes his claim weak - while Whiting (2022) broadens scope to encompass the global impact of the cost-of-living crisis resulting from geopolitical events.

Secondly, Christian (2023) heavily depends on information derived from a single PwC survey. PwC's survey data provides valuable insights, but relying solely on one source lead to oversimplification - limit the comprehensiveness and reliability of the information presented- states "26% said they intend to quit their job in the next year" to support the argument (Christian, 2023, para. 3). Similarly, Kilfoyle (2023) cites "The Lancet concludes that planned rises in the UK's energy cap would take 4.8 million more people into poverty" (para. 27) and "Nearly half of people with problem debt also have a mental health problem, and 40% say their finances have made their mental health problems worse" (para. 30) - show the impact of the cost of living crisis on public health. Therefore, Christian's (2023) article heavily relies on survey data and statistics, but qualitative insights from interviews, case studies, or more experts' opinions along with more survey data could provide a comprehensive understanding of the human experiences behind the numbers.

Lastly, while Christian (2023) suggests correlation between the cost-of-living crisis and job quits, causality isn't definitively established, and other factors like job satisfaction, work-life balance, and career growth opportunities may play significant roles. Christian (2023) simplifies economic complexities, overlooks structural issues, and doesn't deeply explore the consequences of job market changes. In the article, Christian (2023) mentions that "The aftermath of the Great Resignation means more employees may consider finding a better salary through a new role" (para. 9) - potentially indicating an overemphasis on pay as the primary motivating factor. In contrast, Lindor (2018) explores why great people quit good jobs and emphasizes the role of organizational culture. Lindor (2018) emphasizes that a thriving culture, where values align, leadership is clear, and innovation is encouraged, is crucial for retaining talented individuals. The talk encourages both employees and leaders to actively contribute to creating a positive work environment to prevent great people from quitting good jobs. Therefore, Christian (2023) fails to cover other crucial factors because he primarily focuses on financial considerations.

In conclusion, Christian (2023) builds a robust argument that emphasizes the connection between the cost-of-living crisis and increased job quits. Several strengths stand out in the argument, making it logical, fair, and reasonable. However, Christian's (2023) argument raises new questions about the long-term implications of a high number of job quits, regional disparities, and how different demographic groups are affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Moreover, it indicates a requirement for more in-depth policy dialogues and solutions that go beyond what has been presented in the article. Conclusively, developing a more comprehensive analysis would strengthen Christian's (2023) argument.

Task

Question A. What is the thesis of this essay? Does the thesis critique the selected article? Answer in 2 sentences.

Question B. Do all the paragraphs of the response section have topic sentences? Do they represent the main ideas of the paragraphs? How? Answer in 3 to 5 sentences.

Question C. How are quotations used in this essay? Are they used effectively? Why or why not? Answer in 2 to 3 sentences.

Question D. What is the biggest strength of this essay? What can you learn from reviewing this essay? Answer in 2to 3 sentences.