Rise of revenge quitting among U.K. Workers

A growing number of U.K. employees are engaging in “revenge quitting,” resigning in dramatic fashion to express frustration with workplace conditions, according to a recent survey, highlighting broader issues of job satisfaction and retention in the corporate sector.

The trend involves employees leaving jobs publicly and often virally, using social media, videos, or creative methods to criticize employers. A survey of 2,008 U.K. workers by recruitment company Reed, released in July, revealed that 15 percent had revenge quit. The figure rises to 26 percent for 18- to 34-year-olds and 22 percent for 35- to 44-year-olds, compared to 8 percent for those aged 45 to 54.

James Reed, chair of Reed, attributed the acceleration of this trend to social media, where employees share stories online. Examples include Joey La Neve DeFrancesco, who in 2011 quit his U.S. hotel job with a marching band, amassing nearly 10 million YouTube views. In the U.K., Katie Ostler, now 29 and living in Manchester, resigned from a supermarket job by interrupting an interview, citing a toxic environment and lack of support.

Other cases include Father Pat Brennan, a clergyman, who resigned in July with a poem criticizing parishioners, shared on Facebook. Brianna Slaughter, a 26-year-old American in Japan, quit via TikTok, gaining 1.2 million views and earning 7,000 dollars that month.

Carly, a 25-year-old from Alabama, sent an email exposing employer practices after being overworked. These acts stem from poor treatment, low pay, or toxic cultures, as in DeFrancesco’s case, where he earned 4 pounds per hour and faced tip cuts after unionization efforts.

The Conference Board survey in June found a 15 percent job satisfaction gap in the U.S., with 57 percent of under-25s satisfied versus 72 percent of over-55s, a trend mirrored in the U.K.

Impacts on companies include reputation damage, deterring potential hires, as seen when Ostler’s resignation warned interviewees. Viral quits can disrupt operations and raise turnover costs, particularly among younger workers.

Experts suggest revenge quitting reflects falling satisfaction, accelerated by post-pandemic shifts in work expectations. Companies may need to improve cultures to retain talent.

While risky, some find benefits; DeFrancesco’s video led to new opportunities. Slaughter encouraged others to leave toxic jobs.