Nearly half (47 per cent) of U.S. workers say they’ve thought about leaving their job because their employer’s actions didn’t reflect its stated values, according to a new survey by Resume Now.
The survey, which polled 1,000 U.S. employees, found another 36 per cent said they stayed silent about unethical behaviour to protect themselves, while 21 per cent admitted they’ve lied to safeguard their image or position. Just 26 per cent said they’d definitely report an unethical boss and only 41 per cent said they felt comfortable raising ethical concerns.
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Many workers also said they’ve witnessed questionable conduct at work. Forty-three per cent had seen favouritism in promotions or raises, 21 per cent said someone faced retaliation after speaking up and nine per cent said their workplace’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts were more performative than meaningful. Only 34 per cent said none of these issues had occurred at their workplace.
Beyond ethical breaches, the report also highlighted broader issues related to safety and authenticity at work. More than half (54 per cent) of respondents said they felt pressure to conform to workplace norms rather than show up as themselves. When asked whether they’d recommend their employer, 44 per cent said it would depend on the team and 16 per cent said they wouldn’t recommend it at all.