The Great Resignation: How Has It Affected the Courts?

Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode: April 19, 2022

Brought to You in Cooperation with NACM

One unintended consequence of the COVID pandemic has been a phenomenon called “The Great Resignation.” Large numbers of American workers have either quit their jobs or (after being laid off) have chosen not to return to their previous employer. CBS News has reported an estimated 20 million people left their jobs in only the second half of 2021. Why is this occurring?

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that of those who left their jobs, almost a two-thirds (63%) cited low pay. Almost two-thirds also cited no opportunity for advancement. Well over half (57%) felt they were disrespected at work. Slightly less than half (48%) cited child-care issues. An interesting side note: only 18% cited their employer’s vaccine mandate as a reason for leaving.

Since we appear to be coming out of the COVID pandemic, is this Great Resignation on the wane? Well, a survey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com estimates that almost a third of workers (32%) plan to leave their current job this year. That number is particularly high in the Information Technology Profession.

This month we are going to explore The Great Resignation and its effect on courts and court employees. In this discussion we are including not only courts that may have lost employees, but courts that are having trouble recruiting and courts that are suffering because their justice system partners have having trouble keeping fully staffed. Some of the questions we will explore include:

What has been the courts’ workforce experience during this “Great Resignation”?
Do you see this situation getting better or worse in 2022?
Are there things courts can do to entice more people to consider court administration as a career?
What advice do these panelists have for the rest of us?

Listen to the April 19, 2022, CLAPodcast Episode on your way to or from work. 23 Minutes 8 Seconds

Watch the April 19, 2022, CLAPodcast Episode 23 minutes 38 seconds

Be sure to take the Survey question: Has your court experienced an increase in employees leaving, a decline in folks applying for open jobs, other justice system partners that are struggling to stay fully staffed, or have you not seen any effect?

Become part of the conversation! Email us at CLAPodcasts@nacmnet.org

Today’s Cohost

Alyce Roberts is recently retired as the Special Projects Coordinator for the Alaska Court System. As a member of the court’s senior staff, she was the AOC’s primary liaison with the clerks of court. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing the annual statewide clerks of court conference program, facilitating the sessions and serving as a presenter. Alyce regularly worked with court colleagues and justice partners to propose revisions to court rules and develop statewide clerical procedures.

She served on the Alaska Supreme Court’s Civil Rules Advisory Committee. She has worked for the Alaska Court System since 1989, holding a number of positions including clerk of court in Anchorage (the state’s largest general jurisdiction court). She has served on the National Association for Court Management’s (NACM) Board of Directors, chairs NACM’s Communication Committee, and she is a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management (2010).

Today’s Panelists

Dawn A. Palermo is the Judicial Administrator for the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court in Harvey, Louisiana. She has held this position since 2004. In this capacity, she oversees all court programs, employees and finances, negotiates and monitors all contracts and drafts all funding proposals. Ms. Palermo is also currently serving as a board member for the Louisiana Court Administrators Association (LCAA). She is the current columnist for the Courtside Conversation for the National Association of Court Management (NACM). She is a past board member and Communications Committee Chair for NACM. She has also authored the NACM CORE curriculum for budget and financial management.

Prior to her appointment as the Judicial Administrator, Ms. Palermo served as the Deputy Judicial Administrator for Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court from 1999-2004, the Drug Court Administrator for the Adult Drug Court at the 24^th Judicial District Court from 1997-1999, a Management Analyst with the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority from 1995-1997, and as a Liaison to the Louisiana Legislature for Jefferson Parish. Dawn started both the Jefferson Parish Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts and served on the steering committee to start Jefferson Parish School Based Health Centers. She served as the President of Louisiana Court Administrators Association from 2012 to 2013 and as treasurer and a board member for Louisiana Drug Court Professionals. She was one of the founding members of Louisiana Drug Court Professionals. She also was a founding member and served on the Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy Board.

Dawn received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business and Public Administration from Louisiana State University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of New Orleans. She is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Eric Silverberg is a career court manager beginning his court career as a court analyst in Gainesville , Florida in 1991. He has been an involved member of NACM since 1995. His academic credentials include graduate degrees in Business Administration and Computer Resources and Information Technology. He became an ICM Fellow in 1997.