Half of Us Have “Revenge Quit” a Job

If you’ve ever fantasized about telling your boss to shove it and walking out mid-shift, you’re not alone – and many of us have actually done it.

According to a new poll from Monster, revenge quitting – quitting without notice as an act of frustration or vengeance – is surprisingly common.

Almost half of us have done it before

47% of workers say they’ve done it at some point in their life. And it’s not just a personal rebellion; 57% say they’ve witnessed a coworker do it too.

Why we “revenge quit”

The top reason people gave for going full scorched-earth on their job? A toxic work environment. Poor management and feeling undervalued were also high on the list. Basically, if your office feels like a daily test of patience, you’re more likely to bail without a heads-up. (aka, no two-weeks notice)

Bad bosses partly to blame

Interestingly, nearly half (46%) of those who revenge quit said they might have stuck it out if they’d had a different boss. So yes, a good boss really can make or break a workplace.

But while revenge quitting might sound like something out of a workplace comedy, it’s often more calculated than it seems. Over half of the people surveyed admitted they mentally checked out at least six months before making their exit. One in five people said they’d fantasized about quitting for over two years before they finally pulled the plug.

In contrast to rage quitting, which is often an in-the-moment emotional explosion, revenge quitting can simmer in the background for months (or years) before someone finally walks out.

Either way, flipping the bird on your way out the door sure sounds fun, right?