The 6 Best Reasons to Quit Your Job
Most Americans are unhappy in the workplace. Studies show that nearly three-quarters of corporate employees would realistically consider finding a new job today. About a third are already looking. Why? Well, these numbers shed a little light: 31% of all workers are irked by their boss, 35% are troubled by internal politics, and 43% are suffering from a lack of recognition, according to a survey by Accenture. (See also: The 10 things You Need to Do If You Want to Quit Your Job)
That many Americans are unhappy at work, however, is not reason enough to hand in your two weeks notice. So what is? Read on for our roundup of the top valid reasons to quit your job.
1. Your Commute Is Killing You
Long commutes trigger neck pain, obesity, loneliness, divorce, stress, and insomnia, according to research out of Sweden. That's a web of symptoms no job is worth. If the twice daily traffic jam is driving you mad — and tampering with your health and love life — then it's probably time to move closer to the office or launch a job search closer to your neighborhood.
2. Your Skills Aren't Being Tapped
If you're being underutilized, sooner or later you're going drift into a sea of boredom and indifference. That's not good for business, and it's not good for your professional growth, happiness, or self-esteem. Here are the tell-tale signs: You've been skipped over for assignments that perfectly fit your skill set, you've been passed over for a promotion on more than one occasion, and your workload has been reduced or simplified.
3. Your Company Is on the Fritz
There's no need to go down with a sinking ship. If your company is on its way out, it might be wise to make your exit — sooner rather than later.
4. You Don't Believe in Your Work
If you're not proud of the work you're doing, it's probably time to make some adjustments so that you are. And if your work or your company's ideals are at all in conflict with your beliefs, be they religious, social, or otherwise, your time would be well spent to figure out how to reconcile that — which could mean finding a new job. You'll never reach your potential if you're doing something you don't stand behind 100%.
5. The Office Culture Is Toxic
If you've ever said, "My job is killing me!" — you could be right. Research shows that people who work in hostile environments are more likely to die sooner than those who work in atmospheres that are more favorable. Death aside, toxic work environments are known to provoke aches, stress, and signs of depression. While more favorable than death, these are symptoms no one should have to suffer.
6. Your Work-Life Balance Is Out of Whack
Work has a way of getting in the way of what, for many of us, matters most — Family time. These numbers offer a glimpse at the epidemic: 55% of all employees say they don't have enough time for themselves, 67% of employed parents say they don't have enough time with their kids, and 63% of married employees say they don't have enough time with their spouse, according to Families and Work Institute's National Study of the Changing Workforce. Striking the right balance is typically touch-and-go, but if you're severely under-serving yourself or your loved ones, it may be time to find a new job that offers more flexibility. (See also: 9 Ways to Protect Your Personal Time From Work)
Have you ever quit a job? Why? Please share in comments!
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Tagged: Career and Income, Personal Development
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I quit a teaching job that paid $65K/year. With two teenagers facing college, and a husband who doesn't get paid when he doesn't work, it was a big kick in the pants for us. Why did I quit? I couldn't take the stress of teaching in the inner city anymore. The principal was a nice guy, but there was no support for the teachers. I was getting frozen out of meetings and professional development opportunities, and the death knell came when I was moved from the job I enjoyed and was highly qualified for (writing coach) to a job as a health teacher. In middle school. I was unhappy and it was starting to show in my marriage. I went out on medical leave in the spring and did not come back the following year. In hindsight, I probably should have tried to find another teaching job in a different school district.
The only thing I regret about leaving my job is the paycheck. And I did leave some awesome, caring professional colleagues behind. I am now an adjunct professor at a local community college (no benefits, not that good of a salary) and consultant. I'm able to manage the household finances effectively, but the long and the short of it is, I shot myself in the foot. I am 58 years young, have a lot of experience in many different areas, and due to my age I am having a hard time finding a full-time job.
Thank you for letting me rant.
I haven't quit yet, but I'm already looking for another job. I'm a truck driver in Los Angeles. You can just imagine what driving an 18-wheeler thru L.A. must be like. Adding to the stress of driving is the culture that is getting out of control. What I mean is that the new drivers and the veteran drivers are constantly taking shortcuts, specially in safety. They're not inspecting their vehicles the way that they should and when they find something, they're not passing it on to the next person that will be driving that vehicle.
When a person holding a CDL(Commercial Driver's License), is too lazy to change a turn signal bulb, or a wiper blade, parks a truck and puts it "out of service" for a flat tire instead of getting it fixed, we have problems.
I've tried over and over again to bring these concerns to management, but I'm just ignored. So I'm actively looking for another job.