Workers Are “Revenge Quitting” in Response to Return-to-Office Mandates

Growing up, the idea that I’d be able to stay home and get paid to do what I love would’ve been outlandish. Every adult in my life worked on-site, and movies like The Devil Wears Prada depicted how I imagined life as a journalist would be. Ironically, the opposite is now true: Going into the office is an outdated concept, and working remotely has become the norm. This work model gave us autonomy and helped us achieve a work-life balance. Now, return-to-work (RTO) mandates are threatening that delicate balance, and “revenge quitting” has become the latest workplace trend as a result.

Unsurprisingly, being forced back into the office has left many reeling. However, Executive Coach and Psychologist Dr. Anne Welsh says it’s been particularly challenging for Gen Z, the demographic that popularized revenge quitting. This is largely because many of them entered the workforce when hybrid and remote models were the standard. In the wake of RTO policies, they’re worried about this shift and how it will impact their mental health and well-being (and their ability to take sneaky Fridays).

I understand their apprehension, but still, this new trend brings up a lot of questions. First, what defines revenge quitting? But more importantly, why are so many ambitious professionals opting to revenge quit? And what risks, if any, does it pose to their careers? I tapped career experts to get to the bottom of it. Ahead, their answers, plus what to do if you’re tempted to revenge quit yourself.

In this article 1 What is revenge quitting? 2 Why are employees revenge quitting? 3 The risks revenge quitting poses to your career 4 Does revenge quitting even work? 5 What to do if you’re tempted to revenge quit