Millennials, Gen Z most willing to quit jobs over politics

While most employees may be unlikely to quit their jobs over politics, Generation Z and millennials might be turning the tide.

A new survey from Kickresume shows that age played a significant factor in whether people were willing to leave their jobs.

While 86 percent said they weren’t willing to change jobs because of political differences, the 14 percent who said they would leave mostly consisted of members of younger generations. Roughly 78 percent of employees who would quit were between the ages of 18 and 43.

Paul Beck, a professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University, said this is probably because 18- to 43-year-olds are less likely to be locked into specific jobs.

“If they are more mobile job-wise, it is understandable that politics, especially in these politically polarized times, may be one of the reasons why they would move on to another position, one with co-workers or a corporate culture that is more compatible with their politics,” Beck told Newsweek.

But HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said younger generations are just generally more likely to demand workplaces that reflect their personal values.

“It’s no secret we live in a politically charged country where the idea of leaving politics at the door doesn’t fly with them,” Driscoll told Newsweek. “They see it as part of their identity and ethics. This reflects a growing intolerance for corporate neutrality, where companies are expected to take a stand.”

In the survey, men were more likely to leave jobs over political views, making up 68 percent of those who would quit, compared with just 32 percent of women.

Driscoll, who stopped working with a client after learning the person participated in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, said employers are going to need to recognize the shift and create a workplace that embraces “moral alignment” or risk losing talent.

“To attract younger workers, businesses need to foster environments where diverse political views can coexist without employees feeling morally compromised,” Driscoll said. “This goes beyond empty diversity slogans. It requires companies to actually live up to their values and make sure they align with the workforce they want to attract.”

The need to create a politically tolerant workforce could be of increasing importance for employers, especially as political conversations increase in frequency at work.

The survey found that half of employees said political discussions had increased over the past five years, and 21 percent faked their political views to fit in with colleagues.

Sometimes, politics even comes up during a job interview, as 19 percent of employees said they’ve been asked politics-related questions during their interviews.

While not every job is going to be completely aligned with workers’ political beliefs, millennials and Gen Zers are less willing to compromise as much as older generations, Driscoll said.

“It’s a balance of knowing when to stand firm and when to accept that a job is just a means to an end,” he said.