Why Good Employees Quit

When good employees quit, it’s hard for those same leaders not to take it personally. An unexpected resignation letter can feel like a betrayal.

But before you place the blame solely on the newly departing and reframe your past history to try and spin them as less valuable than they really were, consider some of the reasons good employees quit.

Burnout
Boredom
Bad Managers
Better Pay
Bigger Opportunity
Blah Purpose

There are certainly more reasons good employees quit than these six. But these six represent the intersection between the felt emotions of good employees and the untaken actions of team leaders. If too many good people are turning over too fast, consider these six reasons as starting points for making adjustments as a leader. You may not keep good employees from leaving forever, but you will create an environment where they can do some of the best work they’ve ever done and will reflect on you as one of the best leaders they’ve ever had.

//DO YOUR BEST WORK EVER

//LIKE THE SHIRT?

//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.

He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.

A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.

//SPEAKING

//CONNECT

[sydneyhart]

The best way to retain good employees is to get rid of bad managers.

[nikolasb]

I have a manager who said a few times: "I don't care if you leave, I'll have no problem finding a replacement". I don't think any "leader", as she identifies herself, should ever tell their staff this. It's no surprise some of us are headed for the exit.

[PurplePinkRed]

All very good relevant points. One big one you missed is jealous and nasty coworkers. When you are competent, focused on your work and proactive, the other employees hate it because it shows how lazy and incompetent they are. The knives come out eventually. Many leaders won't do anything to stop it.

[LeadershipwithMike]

Great, timely video.

I love the “ask what you want me to stop working on”. This is a great way to open other peoples eyes.

[VicenteHernandez-ykby]

I put in my two week notice last week. This are all the reasons I left my 18year career. I reach the peak and at my greatest year in sales. I never felt appreciated and I didn’t feel like my manager had my back. He never taught me anything or cared about my concerns and want to help me grow. He jokingly make comments demanding better results but I don’t think he even knew how to get them himself. He was not a leader and just practicing mediocrity. To all managers if you could just care enough to ask how was your weekend and say thank you and act like you care you will get better results.

[dbs]

The big one now and for the past year and a half is the pushing for return to the office after remote work.
People who were able to complete all tasks from home with no commute time and expense like it.
Force them back to the office and more often than not, they'll quit and go somewhere else without the edict.

[christinamorales]

Yep, you don’t leave a job but a bad boss.

[jeanett-innm]

Especially when there is so much problems and gossip and all around toxic environment in the job and when the managers know it and they let it happen

[gregthomas]

Makes sense to me. The human shield illustration reminded me of the movie quote from 300. “Persian: A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun! Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade.” 🛡

[RCorDIE]

CEO shakes my hand saying how happy he and customers are with my efforts in my job. He said he was going to make sure I get more money.That was in my second month of employment. 8 months later and never saw a raise or review. Nothing. I still give the same high level of effort but feel bitter and looking to go to another employer asap. So, another reason great employees quit is because employer is lying and setting up false hopes and being deceptive.

[TattyDarling]

The problem is that companies want workers who will commit themselves and be loyal…..but Ive yet to work for a company that wants to give that back to their employee. They don’t even see us as human. We are numbers, that make numbers so that the higher ups can take more fancy holidays and buy designer bags….while we have 3 roommates in our 30’s because we can’t afford to live.

[thesisypheanjournal]

My department head was dumbfounded when I pointed to sign-on bonuses as a sign of discontent and high turnover. “We pay six month and annual bonuses, too!” If you have to give people bonuses for not quitting you’re doing something wrong. I suggested that the money might be better spent equipping us to do our jobs well rather than merely adequately. Hardware, software, training. Cheaper and gives the message that the quality of our work actually matters.

[mmnelson]

What can be done when the employer simply doesn’t care? He’s highly narcissistic. That’s why I’m looking for a different job. My co-workers are in a less flexible situation and can’t easily find a better place to work.

[grateful]

Best video I have found on this subject hands down. Thank you

[rudolphrodolfo]

Great content. You have covered a great deal of the Why people leave. Thanks for Sharing 👍

[lcbrownbrown]

Great short video with great information!

[supaipai]

My last job at Krogers hired me in as a Part Timer tried to force me to go full time and I said no multiple times. Then they tried to threaten me for not working past my shift and they would deny my request all the way up to them laying me off with no hours. I'm going to try to get unemployment this year but I don't know if it will happen with how hard it is to get in Ohio.

[alzathoth]

The hard part is finding a new employer that pays the same as the current employer.

[johnrainsman]

My lousy, condescending boss. No wonder she lives in her own apartment and has never been married before