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A significant portion of the American workforce is weighing their options amid rising dissatisfaction driven by perceived favoritism in the workplace, according to new survey data.
Two out of every five US employees are considering leaving their jobs, with one in ten already planning to resign this year, research from SideHustles.com has revealed.
The findings, based on a survey of 1,000 US workers, point to a widespread concern that unequal treatment in the office is damaging morale and eroding trust. Nearly nine in ten respondents said they have witnessed favoritism in their organisation, with 25% claiming it occurs “all the time.”
The data suggests that the problem is pervasive across sectors but is particularly visible in tech, education, and healthcare. Among those working in physical office environments, 31% say they regularly observe preferential treatment, compared to 25% of remote employees. This difference underscores how being physically present may expose workers to more day-to-day evidence of uneven management practices.
Trust in HR undermined by fear of retaliation
While the presence of favoritism is widely acknowledged, employees appear reluctant to formally report it. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they do not feel comfortable raising concerns with human resources departments, citing fears of retaliation or other negative repercussions.
The types of behaviour flagged most often include giving special treatment to certain individuals (61%), distributing work assignments unfairly (44%), and selectively offering flexible hours or remote work arrangements (41%).
“These actions create visible divisions between favored employees and their peers, fuelling resentment and weakening team cohesion,” the study states.
This growing perception of inequality is not just contributing to dissatisfaction - it’s pushing some workers to seek entirely new career paths. One in five respondents said they have already turned to freelancing or started their own business to escape the perceived bias embedded in traditional workplace structures.
Implications for retention and engagement strategies
As the data shows, the perception of unfairness has a measurable impact on job satisfaction and career decisions. For HR leaders and people professionals, the findings highlight the importance of equitable management practices and the risks of overlooking workplace culture issues.
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The study also highlights how physical office environments may unintentionally amplify the visibility of favoritism, particularly as hybrid work becomes more common. HR teams may need to reassess how policies, perks, and development opportunities are distributed (and perceived) across different working arrangements.
With the workforce under increasing pressure to find roles that reflect their values and offer fair treatment, organisations that fail to address internal perceptions of inequality risk losing top talent to more transparent, inclusive alternatives. For employers, prioritising fairness and trust is no longer optional, it’s essential to maintaining a happy and committed workforce.
