15 motives why people lay off

Are the duties you do on a daily basis challenging enough and does it give you the feeling of fulfillment? Are you happy with the wages and do the relationships with co-workers help you resolve daily issues? If the answer to some of these questions is ‘no’, probably, you’re one of those who are currently considering changing their occupation.

Although each case is unique, there are a plenty of arguments which cause most of the resignations. In today’s entry, we’ll consider the main motives why individuals say ‘I quit’. These arguments are divided into office issues (when a person is unhappy about something in the office) and private reasons (when the resignation decision isn’t connected with business problems).

Business place deal breakers

1. Colleagues hard to deal with
   Good relationships with colleagues create a great climate for collaboration in a team. If the relations between team members are strained, the work dissatisfaction grows and a person finds it’s easier to quit.  Bad relationships affect negatively both confidence and commitment to organization, and even a good salary can’t compensate this disadvantage.
2. Expectations to business off-time
   some managers see nothing wrong about making their workers operate extra hours, or even in their day off. Meanwhile, when staff are forced to function over 50 hours a week, their productivity falls dramatically. Overload leads to stress and professional burnout. So, talented professional go to find the better position where their talent will be valued, not exploited.
3. Boring and unchallenging tasks
   of course, every occupation involves both interesting, challenging tasks and mundane duties which is necessary, but brings little to no satisfaction. Good managers combine the two kinds of tasks to keep workers satisfied and feeling they do something meaningful and get all the load done in the meanwhile. However, if one of the personnel is constantly given unpleasant tasks that don’t let them demonstrate their potential, one day he/she is likely to quit. Individuals spend up to half of their ordinary day getting ready for duties, commuting and cooperating, so they need to feel engaged and challenged to stay with the organization.
4. Boss does not reward good work
   what is the motive to be a top performer if nobody even values it? A person who led important project, prepared quality analytics or signed a wealthy client deserves recognition. Recognition may vary depending on his/her needs (bonus, public recognition, day off, etc.); however, if a high-performer does not get rewarded, it can make him look for another boss with another company.
5. Boss blames for minor mistakes
   everyone makes mistakes, that’s a fact. But when the boss blames you publically for everything you’ve done wrong, even the loyal employees will start considering changing the business place. Constructive criticism (not in public, of course) helps everybody correct their mistakes and improve performance, while individuals who are constantly being blamed simply become uninterested in performing their duties well.
6. Not getting promoted
   If two of the colleagues hired a year after you and doing the same amount of load have already been promoted, wouldn’t it make you feel frustrated? If an employee wants a career growth and has been overlooked with a promotion, it will force him change the company to realize his long-term goals.
7. Lack of proper training
   Good companies that care about their workers give them an opportunity to attend trainings at least once a year so they could expand their skill set and get more qualified. At the end, this effort pays off – workers grow professionally and this has a positive impact on their performance. On the contrary, companies which neglect their staff’ development face the dissatisfaction and stagnation of their workers and the most perspective talents create a CV and lay off.
8. No way up
   if the company does not offer opportunities for promotion, or the opportunities offered does not  satisfy staff in terms of salary, business conditions, etc., they’ll look to advance their career elsewhere.
9. No trust and autonomy
   hardly any workers who are professional enough to do their duties well would like to have a boss who is constantly on the top of them. If the manager tries to control your every move, it only means that he does not  trust you and, consequently, he limits your creativity and ability to develop effective solutions on your own.
10. Lack of flexibility
    Discipline on the office matters. However, when the behavior of the staff is limited by multiple restrictions, emplopyees become less engaged in the  process. As stated by this report, workers who are forced to always come on time, not allowed to have short breaks or do some personal tasks, have lower productivity. When individuals are allowed to manage their time, they use it more effectively.
11. Low wages/minimal salary rise
    Although salary isn’t considered the most important factor for the work satisfaction, feeling that they are underpaid makes individuals hunt for a new occupation. However, if the company does not  offer bonuses, paid overtime and its average salary is less than the other employers can offer, the most talented personnel will leave as soon as they can.
12. No sense of purpose
    To get a fulfillment from their vacation, the staff should understand the organization’s mission and be aware of their role in the company. Everyone wants to believe that they are not only selling home furniture, but also changing the world in some way. If the person does not  understand his significance within the organization, he does not  feel connected and isn’t motivated to operate hard.
13. Corporate culture
    There are two major arguments when corporate culture might be a problem – when the management does not  take care to build corporate culture and team spirit (i.e. no events, celebrations, activities) or when the corporate culture does not  suit the given person (i.e. strict discipline, dress code, etc.). This motive isn’t strong enough to force an employee search for an occupation straightaway, but when the right opportunity comes by, he’ll leave.
14. Organization’s instability
    Any signs of instability, i.e. mergers and acquisitions, poor sales, reduced work hours make the people stressed and daunted that they can be sacked anytime. That’s when they feel it’s time to edit a CV and start searching for right opportunities.
15. Personal issues
    Sometimes the argument for resignation isn’t connected with the office problems. Things like relocation with the spouse, two or three years off to raise children or simply desire to take a gap year also often become the motive why workers leave. Here isn’t any problem connected with the employer; it’s the employee that wishes to reorganize his/her life and the position does not  fit into the scenario.

Leading career experts recommend that you prepare a portfolio long before you make a decision to quit. Actually, you should always keep your vita up-to-dated. In case you’re being sacked or decide to leave on your own because of one of the above arguments, you’ll be able to start looking for a new occupation at once or even before the resignation. Our CV experts can help you update a profile according to the recent standards so you could start job searching process whenever you want.

What was the motive you left your last position?  Please share your opinion with us.

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• 8 Reasons to Find Part Time Jobs

Author: Editorial Team at ResumePerk.com

Reviewed by: Certified Career Expert

Last updated: November 2025