work life

Why Are So Many Workers Turning Down Promotions These Days?

This generation has a different set of priorities. Why Are So Many Workers Turning Down Promotions These Days? Giphy

News that is entertaining to read

Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inbox

For generations of workers, the possibility of being promoted served as a motivating factor. But the employment market has changed a lot in recent years, and the promise of a fancy new title simply isn’t enough to convince many employees to stick around.

Where things went wrong

Promotions have long been synonymous with more responsibility, greater prestige, and increased compensation. According to a new poll, however, more than two-fifths of American workers surveyed said they weren’t interested in climbing the corporate ladder with their current employer.

But before you label them as unmotivated or even lazy, it’s important to dig deeper into the reasons given by those who said they would turn down a promotion.

In recent years — and particularly in the post-COVID era — Americans in general have been far more focused on securing a personally rewarding and fulfilling position rather than pursuing a pipeline to the corner office.

Ambition isn’t dead, the pollsters found, but it does look quite a bit different than it did in generations past.

What workers want now

Many of today’s workers have made it clear that they are looking to reduce stress and boost harmony between their professional and personal lives. That’s why the promise of a promotion has lost its luster for so many in the workforce.

The three primary reasons given for turning down a chance for career advancement were:

  • Reducing burnout: More than 3 in 4 employees say they occasionally feel burned out at work — and for 28%, it’s a frequent or constant feeling.
  • Boosting balance: Finding a job that maximizes flexibility and provides plenty of time for life outside of work has become a priority for many workers.
  • Calculating value: Nearly 2 in 5 employers admit offering promotions without any extra compensation, which is a deal-breaker for many employees.
Chris Agee
Chris Agee November 4th, 2024
Share this story: