A new buzzword is circulating in career conversations, and it is unsettling employers across industries. It is called “revenge quitting,” and it describes a sudden decision to walk away from a job on the spot, with no notice and no drawn out exit plan. The idea is simple, when a workplace feels toxic or draining, some employees choose an immediate clean break instead of enduring one more day. Reports suggest 2026 is already being framed as a big year for this kind of abrupt departure.
Revenge quitting sits beside two other recent workplace trends that reshaped how people talk about their jobs. Quiet quitting is the approach of doing only what the role requires, no extra hustle, no constant overtime, just the bare minimum to keep things running. Loud quitting goes the opposite direction, with employees leaving in a very public way and often spelling out their frustrations for everyone to hear. Revenge quitting takes the most dramatic element of all, the exit, and removes the warning label.
A report from the job platform Monster suggests nearly half of American workers say they have resorted to some form of revenge quitting in recent years. What stands out is that it is not limited to younger employees testing the job market. Many people who have been in their roles for more than two years still reach a tipping point where they feel they cannot wait out a notice period. Instead of being a spontaneous whim, it often looks like the final chapter after months of building pressure.
Career expert Vicki Salemi, who has spoken on the issue through Monster, has described these sudden resignations as flashing warning signs inside company culture. When someone disappears without a handover, it can signal lost trust in leadership or a belief that speaking up will not change anything. The same report points to toxic workplaces, poor management, and feeling undervalued as the most common triggers, while pay is surprisingly low on the list for many people.
@corporate.sween This is apparently trending?
♬ original sound – corporate sween
The fallout rarely stops with the person who leaves. Around 60 percent of workers in the survey said colleagues had to absorb extra tasks after a revenge quit, which can delay projects and drain morale. That pressure can deepen the very environment that pushed someone out in the first place, creating a cycle that is hard to break. Still, many employees say they would support a coworker who leaves abruptly if the conditions were genuinely unhealthy.
For employers, prevention is less about flashy perks and more about everyday leadership. Clear growth paths, fair recognition, manageable workloads, and managers who actually listen can reduce the urge to bolt. In comments shared with Harper’s Bazaar, consultant Emily Button-Lynham urged people not to make emotional snap decisions, and to first assess whether change is possible through a direct conversation about flexibility, responsibility, pay, or recognition.
Have you ever felt tempted to quit without notice, or witnessed it happen at work? Share your thoughts in the comments.
