Professional Services

Survey: Inadequate pay prompts employees to engage in “quick quitting”

  • 5 min Read
  • April 13, 2023

Author

Kanika Sinha

Kanika is an enthusiastic content writer who craves to push the boundaries and explore uncharted territories. With her exceptional writing skills and in-depth knowledge of business-to-business dynamics, she creates compelling narratives that help businesses achieve tangible ROI. When not hunched over the keyboard, you can find her sweating it out in the gym, or indulging in a marathon of adorable movies with her young son.

Table of Contents

While quiet quitting worried employers earlier this year, they’re soon going to have another headache to deal with. SkyNova, an invoicing software company, labels the latest trend “quick quitting” —  and it’s just what it sounds like!

Schedule a call today

According to SkyNova’s new report, employees are increasingly leaving less than a year after joining an organization for several reasons, including inadequate pay, lack of benefits, toxic work culture and burnout

So, what are these quick quitters doing after they quit? And how can organizations put an end to quick quitting? 

Let’s find answers to these questions and more by perusing the survey findings.

Key survey findings


Surveying 500 employees, and 632 managers and HR professionals about quick quitting and what they believe will help prevent it, Skynova has come up with the following key findings:

Why quick quitters quit


The number one reason for quick quitting was inadequate salary, with 54% of employees citing this reason for leaving their jobs within a year of starting. 

Other most common causes employees quit quickly per survey are outlined below.

  • Insufficient pay – 54%
  • Toxic work environment – 47%
  • Insufficient benefits – 47%
  • Lack of communication – 27%
  • Burnout – 25%
  • Feeling unappreciated – 22%
  • Poor company culture – 17%
  • Inadequate training – 17%
  • Switch industries – 15%
  • Found a better job – 13%
  • Lack of PTO – 13%

Interestingly, the survey reveals that these reasons differed among generations as well as industries. While 55% of millennials quit due to insufficient benefits, 27% of baby boomers left a job because they felt unappreciated and 25% of Gen Zers stepped down due to burnout.  

Similarly, in terms of industries, while the top cause of quick quitting in the IT industry was found to be insufficient benefits, most health care workers cited toxic work environments as the primary reason for leaving their new jobs.

What actions did quick quitters take before leaving?


The survey finds that quick quitters did not leave without taking action for their concerns. Illustrated below are the measures they took to address their problems with their employers before leaving.

  • Asked for a raise – 57%
  • Discussed issues with manager or supervisor – 53%
  • Asked for better benefits – 47%
  • Addressed any issues with HR – 42%
  • Asked for remote work option – 36%
  • Demanded more PTO – 29%
  • Asked for more sick time – 22%
  • Requested for special accommodations – 11%
Talk to us about how Escalon’s PeopleOps can help you provide employees with competitive benefits and improve retention.

What quick quitters found at their next jobs?


The majority of the quick quitters surveyed found better salaries and benefits in their next jobs; 57% of these employees reported pay raises and 56% better benefits in their new roles. 

That said, the salary or benefits of a large proportion of quick quitters stayed the same between quitting and their new jobs; 39% reported receiving the same compensation package and 40% getting similar benefits at their new job.

How employers can prevent quick quitting


Comparison of the viewpoints of employers and employees on what they believe will encourage workers to stay put yielded some interesting data, as outlined below.

  • Across all generations, hybrid or remote work was the top thing employees said would keep them working for an organization.
  • While 51% of employees believed having the option for hybrid work would prevent quick quitting, employers saw it differently with only 37% agreeing. 
  • Most employers (73%) were of the opinion that higher salaries would make employees stay longer, compared to just 24% of employees. Instead, employees were much more likely to name benefits, such as sufficient sick time (50%), adequate PTO (40%), option for remote work (37%), sufficient health insurance (34%) and 401(k) matching program (33%) as reasons to stay.
  • Comparing across industries, the health care industry cited adequate sick time as the best way to retain employees. Meanwhile, almost half of IT workers said sufficient PTO would help employees stick around.

In light of the above, here’s what employers can do to nip quick quitting in the bud before it becomes a serious problem.

  • Research what it is that candidates are looking for in their new roles and organization.
  • Keep benefits and the work environment at the forefront of retention strategies.
  • Ensure to keep the promises they gave their job candidates at the time of hiring.
  • Set a clear standard of what to expect from a job from the beginning and show the same honesty, consideration, loyalty and respect as they expect their employees to show.
  • Strive to make a great first impression in the same manner as they expect from their employees.

Want more? In addition to HR, benefits, recruiting and payroll through its PeopleOps, Escalon’s Essential Business Services include FinOps (CFO services, taxes, bookkeeping and accounting) and Risk (business insurance). Talk to an expert today.

Schedule a call today

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. Escalon and its affiliates are not providing tax, legal or accounting advice in this article. If you would like to engage with Escalon, please contact us here.

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Leadership & Growth

Succession Planning: Preparing for Leadership Transitions 

Change is inevitable in business, and one of the most significant changes a company can face is a leadership transition....

Accounting & Finance

Sales Tax Compliance in the Digital Age: Challenges and Solutions 

The rise of e-commerce and digital business models has revolutionized how companies reach customers, but it has also added new...

Leadership & Growth

Implementing Lean Management Principles in SMBs

“Lean management” might conjure images of big manufacturing plants fine-tuning assembly lines, but the principles of lean are highly relevant...

People Management & HR

Developing a Competitive Compensation Strategy for SMBs

For small and medium-sized businesses, a competitive compensation strategy is key to attracting and retaining the talent needed to grow...

Accounting & Finance

The Role of Financial Reporting in Small Business Growth

Financial reporting often appears to be a routine exercise, but for small businesses, it can be the difference between reactive...

Accounting & Finance

The Impact of Accurate Financial Operations on Business Success

Financial operations encompass the systems and processes that govern every monetary aspect of a business—from managing payables and receivables to...

People Management & HR

The Benefits of Outsourcing Payroll for Small Businesses 

For many small business owners, running payroll is a time-intensive chore that requires meticulous calculation, familiarity with tax codes, and...

Accounting

Introducing C3: Your All-in-One Financial Management Platform

Managing your business’s finances can often feel like juggling too many tasks at once, especially when you’re trying to keep...

Accounting & Finance

Tax Planning Strategies to Maximize Small Business Savings

Small business owners often grapple with tax obligations that can swallow a large portion of their profits if not managed...