Why do good employees stay in bad environments? Do they stay because of the money? Is it fear, or something else? I reflected on my own reasons and chatted with a few good employees, and this is the conclusion.
Emotion. Starting a new job in any profession is a huge milestone at any stage of life. We give our all to a company and our job, but most importantly, we give our time. Tony Robbins once said, “Time isn’t money, it’s emotion”. Most of us have spent so much “emotion” at our job, it’s become normal to pour so much in with getting little out. When it’s time to leave, we can’t get past the emotion (time) that we invested. Often clinging on to better days, even though they are long gone.
Loyalty. It is a great quality to have as an employee, but loyalty in business works best when it’s mutual. Sometimes, due to emotion, we are loyal no matter how bad the environment is. One-sided loyalty can be damaging if the company isn’t willing to do better by its people and the environment. I have noticed that once employees realize that a company doesn’t share the same level of commitment, they do what is in their best interests and leave.
Lack of Experience (aka confidence). Some good employees tell themselves they don’t have enough experience or they are waiting to gain more so they can leave to get a better job. This reflects the lack of confidence that one has in their skill or ability. I’ll try not to “preach” on this one, but you are capable of amazing things and there are companies out there looking for someone like you right now.
Money. Some people hang around a bad environment because there are talks of an IPO, being acquired or mega shares that will hopefully yield a decent payout. Doing it for the money can be dangerous because if the environment is bad and the culture is toxic, things might not pay or play out the way most think.
The People. Most people will resonate with this one. When you work with great people, it’s hard to think of leaving them. I must admit; this was one of my toughest battles. The meaningful relationships you built will continue to thrive long after you have left. Don’t let the people be a deciding factor on whether you stay in a bad environment or not. Eventually, staying where you don’t want to be will create bitterness and frustration that could end up hurting the relationships that have been built.
Complacency. In the workplace, this word can also mean “laziness”. Doing the same thing and not really having to put much effort while still getting a decent paycheck is reason enough for people to hang around. Usually, the leadership is dysfunctional and don’t even notice or care that complacency has set in. The feeling of Groundhog Day can start to get to you after a while. It's in our nature to want to grow and thrive. An environment that supports complacency gets old after a while and you will soon start to crave for a more challenging venture.
Lifestyle. Life happens. Bills must be paid, kids must be fed and there is a certain lifestyle we are accustomed to living. We stay because it’s a means to an end. I personally don’t believe we are meant to live that way. Working in a bad environment increases stress and job-related stress can be fatal, not to mention family life and relationships start to suffer. We are fortunate to live in a day and age where you can make a living doing a variety of things. Tons of companies care about the quality of their working environment, and they are looking for people just like you.
Fear. This is one of the main reason’s people in unhealthy environments stay “the devil you know, is better than the devil you don’t”. Fear of leaving a job is almost paralyzing, so we drown out all the noise and just deal with whatever is happening convincing ourselves we can’t get out of whatever we are in. We adopt fear and pair it with our story of what might happen if we leave. Truth is, fear is fake, it’s an emotion that can be manipulated based on our circumstances. It’s not normal to feel fearful at our jobs. That is a red flag that there is something seriously wrong.
I have dealt with most of these reasons and I know people that are still struggling with this very topic. You are not alone. Once you leave a bad environment you start to feel a sense of empowerment and clarity. You look back and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. You become wiser moving forward and have a better sense of what to look for in the future.
If you are feeling stuck in a bad environment talking to a career or life coach can provide clarity. They can also provide a safe environment for you to work out whatever might be holding you back from leaving.
Charisse Fontes is the founder of Culture Circle and an Executive + People Ops Advisor to founders and leadership teams.
more about Culture Circle →first published on linkedin, nov 2016_
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