So-called 'revenge quitting' is leaving a job as an act of opposition. [Shutterstock]
For some, quitting one’s job isn’t simply a matter of a work-life-balance shift or seeking new opportunities—it’s a take-this-job-and-shove-it statement that would do Johnny Paycheck proud.
That’s the sentiment behind what’s being called “revenge quitting”—the growing concept of how workplace frustrations and a perception of underappreciation are leading more and more employees to resign as an act of opposition, rather than as a judicious career decision.
Stagnant wages and return-to-office mandates are two major culprits contributing to “revenge quitting” becoming one of the more talked about workplace trends of 2025.
Other factors leading to revenge quitting include lack of professional growth opportunities, workplace conflicts and feelings of purposelessness, according to forbes.com.
Results from a study conducted by tech company Software Finder showed that entry-level employees, Gen X employees and remote workers are among the most likely to have revenge quit this past year. Looking ahead, the study predicted the most likely to revenge quit in 2025 include managers, marketers and ad-sales staff, those working in IT and media.
Before revenge quitting, however, an unhappy employee might be wise to seriously consider their situation.
Don’t be driven by emotions, career coach Emily Button-Lynham stressed recently in Harper’s Bazaar magazine. “I always advise my clients to spend time assessing if leaving their job is the only option,” she said. “The key advice is not to make any snap decisions.”
About 4% of full-time employees plan to revenge quit this year, according to the survey, viewable at softwarefinder.com.
Motives for revenge quitting
Here’s a list of employees’ top frustrations with their current role:
Low salary/lack of raises 48%
Feeling undervalued 34%
Lack of career opportunity 33%
Poor management 27%
Lack of appreciation 27%
Poor work-life balance 24%
Limited paid time off 22%
Toxic workplace culture 19%
Source: Software Finder survey data
