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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 9 June 2022
‘Great resignation’ reaches White House with staff turnover

a notable lack of joy across
the White House complex.
The pandemic has dimin-
ished some of the benefits
of the job that typically
make the demands of the
work more bearable, they
said.
“These aren’t perks in
the superficial sense, but
they’re moments that
build your team, sharpen
focus on the mission, and
recharge your batteries,”
said Eric Schultz, principal
deputy White House press
secretary at the end of the
Obama administration.
“Nobody goes to the White
House to coast, but the
jobs are draining, so inspi-
ration along the way can
mean a lot.”
The pandemic meant
few birthday parties in the
bowling alley in the bow-
els of the Eisenhower Ex-
ecutive Office Building and
curtailed the opportunity
to give loved ones a tour
of the historic workplace.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, May 30, 2022, after
returning from Wilmington, Del. In December, the White
Associated Press House was unable to hold
staff holiday parties be-
Continued from Front replacements have been historic levels of quitting,” nomic Council, calls the cause of COVID-19, and
secured for most of the de- said Nick Bunker, director of “great upgrade.” travel is only just returning
Some of it is by design. As parting staff and that no economic research at the Biden also expanded the to pre-pandemic norms.
is customary, White House critical roles are going un- Indeed Hiring Lab. “We’ve staff when he entered the For Biden’s first year in of-
staff were told to leave by filled. “It’s a normal time for also seen really rapid em- White House, owing in large fice, most staff could not
July or to wait to depart un- this level of turnover in any ployment growth so that part to the centralization of even stand on the South
til after the November elec- administration,” said White it’s people sort of taking the federal COVID-19 re- Lawn driveway to view the
tions, according to current House spokesperson Emilie advantage of the situation, sponse and climate policy president arrive or depart
and former officials. Simons. “Government ser- getting new jobs, getting within the West Wing. The on Marine One.
Still, the turnover, particu- vice involves sacrifice, and higher wages. So I think it is 2021 report showed an The COVID precautions
larly within senior ranks, staff often have young chil- from a worker point of view, average salary of about around Biden himself, in-
pales in comparison to the dren or promising careers in pretty much broadly a pos- $94,000. That’s 40% higher cluding testing for those
turbulent first year of Presi- the private sector they put itive story.” than the country’s median who might encounter him
dent Donald Trump, who on hold, or opportunities for More than 4 million work- household income, but still daily, mean many staff
hired and dismissed staff advancement within the ers have been quitting their less than what the well-cre- members have few per-
at a record pace. Also, the administration or through jobs each month over the dentialed staff could earn sonal interactions with their
Biden White House staff- graduate school.” past year, according to in the private sector. boss. For some departing
ing was more stable than Many of the departing Labor Department data, “White House salaries tend staff, a highlight of their
many predecessors in its aides are heading to fed- accounting for almost 3% to be well below the sala- time in the White House
earliest days, making the eral agencies, which have of all workers leaving jobs ries that people have be- came when former Presi-
recent and upcoming exits far deeper pockets than each month — most for fore they come into the dent Barack Obama vis-
more noticeable. the smaller Executive Of- other work opportunities. White House,” said Kevin ited the White House and
The full scale of the Biden fice of the President. They “It’s a worker’s market right Hassett, former chair of talked with staff on the an-
turnover will not be clear can often double their sal- now,” then-White House the Council of Economic niversary of the Affordable
until the end of the month, ary and substantially re- press secretary Jen Psaki Advisers during the Trump Care Act. Aides said he
when the White House is re- duce their workload. said last year, months be- administration. “This follows spent almost five hours in
quired to submit its annual In many ways the depar- fore leaving herself for a role naturally from the fact that the building and made a
salary report to Congress. tures echo a broader trend at the news outlet MSNBC. a president can choose point of mingling with staff
Biden aides insist the de- in the economy — which “We know that. People are people who are at the — in many cases spending
partures are not tied to the the Biden White House has looking for more depend- top of their professions. So more time with them than
president’s low poll num- championed — where a able benefits. They’re look- when people return to their Biden has been able to.
bers, but instead reflect a historically tight labor mar- ing for wages that are high- outside profession, the sala- Biden, aides said, has re-
natural transition for staff- ket has given workers ab- er.” The White House has ry likely increases for almost started one pre-pandemic
ers — some of whom also normal leverage to seek bristled at the term “great everybody.” tradition: accommodat-
toiled long hours on the stronger-paying jobs that resignation” and has tried Veterans of previous West ing departure photos for
campaign — looking to are more compatible with to reframe it as what Bharat Wings who serve in or are in staffers and their fami-
improve their quality of life. their post-pandemic life- Ramamurti, the deputy di- contact with Biden admin- lies who are leaving the
The aides emphasized that styles. “We’ve seen these rector of the National Eco- istration officials say there is administration.q