Revenge Quitting in 2025

When it comes to employee and employer relationships, we've witnessed a fair few trends over the last five years. At first it was the great resignation, which was mass exodus of people following the lockdown. This was followed by the big tech lay-offs and the great regret. Eventually, disgruntled workers thought it better just to opt for quiet quitting and Bare Minimum Mondays. For those interested, I wrote a book on this in 2023 titled 'From Great Resignation to Quiet Quitting - Shifting sands in how we live and work.'

Following on from that, given the upbeat mood for the year ahead, could 2025 be the year for the great revenge?

Let’s find out.

The 2025 Backdrop

Despite 2024 being a year of significant geopolitical turmoil, markets have remained optimistic and resilient. With Donald Trump set to begin his second term on the 20th of January this year, there’s much talk about regulatory respite, increased momentum in economic activity such as deal making, mergers and acquisitions. That should open doors.

There are headwinds surrounding US immigration, particularly for those on the H1B visas, and these are causing some anxiety for the estimated nearly two million technology experts living in the US. Tariffs are another issue as any large changes to tariffs will impact trade routes and relationships. That said, none of these signal a net decrease in the need for people, and where some doors may shut, other doors will open.

Overall, many believe that 2025, the Chinese year of the snake, may be the time to shed that job you loathe.

THE EMPLOYEE SENTIMENT

Let's not forget, during this same period, we've witnessed drastic swings in the way we work - and this has affected employees' lifestyles, relationships and even mental health. At first, people adapted to working from home. Over time, we welcomed hybrid working and that signalled the start of the TWaT Era - as many employees began to come into the physical office space only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Employers first tried to offer incentives to lure people back in, and eventually resorting to return-to-the-office rules.

The entire turbulence has come at some price.

According to Korn Ferry, globally, 29% workers lack motivation, and that number is as high as 40% in the UK. Another study from Owl Labs shows that workers have reported higher levels of stress through 2024.?The same study also shows that 35% of workers are actively searching for jobs, up from 28% in 2023.

?SO SHOULD YOU QUIT?

When you read this and other articles reporting the 2025 trend of the great revenge, it's only natural that this thought will cross your mind.

As an executive coach, I always encourage deeper introspection for such decisions because a lot depends on your life and your circumstances. Many of us focus on what the employers are asking of employees, and it's good to analyse what you as an employee as seeking from the employment. Although salaries are a key motive for many, there are other motives such as having the opportunity learn and do meaningful work, bolster your prospects, and so on.

One key reason people quit work is that they don’t feel recognised by their managers. It's well known that people join firms and quit bosses, I believe this is an unwise strategy. If the problem is the boss, I recommend changing the boss rather than quitting the company that you worked so hard to get into. What you don't know is that your boss may be on their way out too, and there are no guarantees that the next boss will be better.

Work location anxiety seems to be another reason that people feel unsettled. Over 2024, 26% people have said that their companies have changed policies, expecting a return to the office. For many employees this signals not just more cost and inconvenience, but also more face-to-face engagement - which is stressful for some. While many people enjoy engaging with people, others, especially the younger workers, believe that there's no reason work cannot be done asynchronously via emails and shared documentation, and the added stimulus of coming into office causes strain. This is understandable, as not all people are made the same, and yet, if the fear of returning to work is what's making you want to quit, there may be other ways to resolve this too. I'd start with a meaningful conversation explaining my concerns. If nothing works, look for remote only opportunities so that your preference is clearly known.

CONCLUSION

We're walking into 2025 with an upbeat vibe and many employees see this as the time to finally make a move, resigning from jobs they don't enjoy. Though I've addressed a few key reasons, I’m sure you have your own. My only request to you here is to be sure that you spend time analysing what’s not working for you, and how your next step will help you move closer to your best life. Leaving bad bosses is not so convincing an argument because bad bosses can move too. If you need a trusted person to speak with, let's talk through this.

About Vinita

Vinita Ramtri is an international executive coach, speaker, writer and author, on a mission to help you create your best life. Vinita has coached several c-suite executives and entrepreneurs, published four books and one course, and continues to share insights about personal empowerment, personal finance and more. Click here to contact Vinita for coaching and other engagements.

Vinita is also a?senior leader in the financial services industry with over 25 years of corporate experience across four industries and four countries and has held senior leadership roles in prestigious firms such as The Oberoi Hotels, WNS, HSBC, Barclays, BSkyB and NatWest.