The days of wanting to climb the corporate ladder seem to be gone.
A new study suggests that burned-out, stressed employees are turning down higher-paying promotions because they don’t want to deal with all the added stress and anxiety that come with it.
AI career tool Kickresume recently surveyed 1,028 respondents to find out their views on employers’ mental health benefits and whether they use them or not.
In doing so, it was learned that 80% of employees feel their jobs are responsible for their poor mental health and almost 40% of respondents have actually quit a job because of it.
It was also revealed that 70% would turn down a high-paying gig if they weren’t offered any mental wellness benefits.
Because if you’re going to be worn out and spread thin, the least an employer could do is offer a profession that you could talk to about it
In addition to turning down a cushy offer from an outside company, many respondents would go as far as declining an in-house promotion, which is also known as “job dropping.”
“Job-dropping (or deliberately looking for a role with less pressure and fewer responsibilities) is an enticing prospect for a lot of people, for various reasons. Stressful, high-pressure work might have led to burnout and [a] negative impact on their mental health,” Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume, told The Podt.
“They might be balancing work with family responsibilities, whether that’s looking after their children or caring for aging parents. They might simply be craving a change in direction or a better work-life balance.”
Especially in today’s wacky economy, Duris pointed out how difficult a decision this is for employees, but despite how expensive times are, it’s clear Americans would rather prioritize their mental well-being over having deep pockets.
“Turning down a promotion or job you’ve been offered at a new company can also feel like a hard decision — especially if you know you want a high-level position in the future, just not right now,” he added.
“While we often call it a ‘career ladder,’ people’s progression isn’t always so linear. While a promotion and a bigger title might often be associated with success, lots of people are making decisions for their own wellbeing that might look, from the outside, like a step down.”
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