Jumping Ship: People Quit Their Bosses, Not Their Jobs Or Their Company
April 7, 2025
At Qorval for years we’ve said, “great people don’t quit their jobs, nor do they quit their companies; great people quit bad bosses.”
Today the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Job Satisfaction Low, Gallup Data Shows, as Worker Detachment Grows.”
Here’s the link to the article:
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/job-satisfaction-low-gallup-data-detachment-17bc183c
It discusses trends in employee engagement, job satisfaction, and the factors contributing to a rise in job detachment, especially following the pandemic.
The article examines recent findings from Gallup that show a significant decline in job satisfaction and engagement among workers, particularly in the U.S. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more employees are feeling disconnected from their jobs, which is reflected in increasing levels of “quiet quitting” and detachment. Workers are less motivated, less loyal, and more likely to switch jobs as they search for more fulfilling or flexible work environments.
The article suggests that job satisfaction has reached historically low levels, partly due to factors like lack of career development, inadequate compensation, poor work-life balance, and limited opportunities for growth. Employees are also more likely to look for roles that offer flexibility (such as remote or hybrid work) and align with their personal values.
But why are people unhappy at work? Let’s take a look at why people typically “jump ship.”
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Reasons Why People Want to Switch Jobs:
- Lack of Job Satisfaction: Many workers report feeling unsatisfied with their roles, which has led to lower engagement and higher turnover. The dissatisfaction is often due to the nature of the work itself, the organizational culture, or insufficient recognition and rewards.
- Limited Career Growth or Development: Employees are increasingly looking for jobs that offer opportunities for advancement and skill development. Many workers feel stagnant or underappreciated if they see no clear path for career progression.
- Inadequate Compensation: With rising inflation and the cost of living, workers are seeking positions that offer better pay or benefits. Those who feel underpaid for the work they do may decide to switch jobs to achieve better financial stability.
- Poor Work-Life Balance: The pandemic has led many employees to reevaluate their work-life balance. Workers are increasingly prioritizing jobs that allow them to have more flexibility, like remote work or flexible hours. Lack of this flexibility is a key driver of job dissatisfaction.
- Desire for Flexibility: Remote work or hybrid work arrangements have become highly sought after, and employees are willing to leave jobs that don’t offer this flexibility. People are seeking roles that allow them to better balance personal life and work commitments.
- Mismatched Company Values: As employees increasingly seek purpose in their work, they are more likely to leave organizations that don’t align with their personal values, especially around issues like corporate social responsibility, sustainability, or work culture.
- Burnout: Chronic stress, overwork, and burnout have been major factors driving employees to leave their jobs. The pandemic amplified these feelings, with many workers reporting feeling overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations and a lack of support from their employers.
- “Quiet Quitting” and Detachment: The rise of “quiet quitting”, where employees disengage from going above and beyond in their roles, is indicative of growing detachment. Workers who feel disconnected are more likely to switch jobs in search of more meaningful and engaging work.
At Qorval for years we’ve said, “great people don’t quit their jobs, nor do they quit their companies; great people quit bad bosses.”
In summary, people are increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs due to poor work-life balance, limited opportunities for growth, inadequate pay, lack of alignment with personal values, and burnout. These factors are driving a rise in employee detachment, quiet quitting, and a desire to find jobs that offer more flexibility, purpose, and fulfillment.
Paul Fioravanti, MBA, MPA, CTP, is the CEO & Managing Partner of QORVAL Partners, LLC, a FL-based advisory firm (founded 1996 by Jim Malone, six-time Fortune 100/500 CEO) Qorval is a US-based turnaround, restructuring, business optimization and interim management firm. Fioravanti is a proven turnaround CEO with experience in more than 90 situations in more than 40 industries. He earned his MBA and MPA from the University of Rhode Island and completed advanced post-master’s research in finance and marketing at Bryant University. He is a Certified Turnaround Professional and member of the Turnaround Management Association, the Private Directors Association, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Association of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&MA), the American Bankruptcy Institute, and IMCUSA. Copyright 2024, Qorval Partners LLC and/or Paul Fioravanti, MBA, MPA, CTP. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution without permission.
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