What Happens When Unhappy Employees Stick Around

The Hidden Cost of “Revenge Staying”. Why Ignoring Employee Needs Backfires.

Over the past five years, employees have faced constant challenges, leading companies to initially invest in work flexibility and training. However, many organizations are now pulling back these efforts, assuming workers have limited options. This shift is causing growing employee disengagement—especially among Gen Z—which hurts innovation, productivity, and team morale. As burnout climbs and engagement falls, high performers are reaching a breaking point—putting companies at risk of not just turnover, but something more insidious: employees who stay but become disengaged and resentful. Shannon Gabriel, our VP of Leadership Solutions, calls this “revenge staying.”

HR leaders must seize the opportunity to prove themselves as a business partner and help leadership spot the signs of revenge staying:

• Empower leaders to act. Don’t assume they know how to handle disengagement—train them to spot early signs like declining performance and motivation. Build their emotional intelligence with evidence-based tools.
• Check engagement levels. Regularly assess how employees feel. If detachment is visible, deeper issues likely exist. Use data to guide and evaluate recovery efforts.
• Personalize support. Avoid blanket solutions. Tailor action plans to individual needs to rebuild trust and motivation.
• Stay connected. Leaders should be embedded in their teams, not detached. Encourage open communication at all levels and align everyone with the organization’s purpose.
• Reignite roles. Job satisfaction often comes from variety and ownership, not money. Offer fresh challenges and ask employees what changes would re-energize them.

The impact of revenge staying extends far beyond individual performance. It’s a cultural contagion that can quietly erode team morale and company momentum. HR teams can transform a potential crisis into an opportunity for meaningful change. The goal isn’t just to eliminate revenge staying. It’s to create environments where it never takes root.

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