Employees Don’t Quit Their Job, They Quit Their Manager

Every month, we talk to hundreds of candidates and one thing we’ve learned is that the saying, "employees don’t quit their job, they quit their manager," is spot on. While salary, benefits and company culture all play a part in job satisfaction, we’ve found that a bad manager is often the biggest reason employees start looking for a new role.

Managers are the ones who set the tone for their team. The best managers are supportive, acknowledge their employees’ contributions, and play an active role in career development. These leaders create environments where employees feel valued and appreciated, which is key to retaining top talent.

But even in companies with amazing perks—world-class benefits, great work-life balance, and positive employee survey results—if working for a bad manager becomes emotionally draining, employees will start to think, “Maybe I should reply to that recruiter” or “What do I have to lose by hearing them out?”

And just like that, the job search begins.

For us, it’s clear that developing strong leaders is key to creating happy employees and a thriving organization. Losing an employee can be incredibly costly—typically 6 to 9 months’ worth of their salary and even more for executive or highly technical roles.

That’s why we love working with companies that invest in developing their managers. When great leadership is the priority, those are the organizations our candidates are excited to join.

In the end, it’s much easier for us to recruit for companies that recognize the value of strong management. Effective leaders create happy employees and engaged teams. And that’s a win-win for everyone involved.