Workplace Favoritism: One In 10 Are Quitting Over It
When the majority of employees in your workplace feel overlooked while a select few are given special treatment, it creates feelings of resentment, inequality and animosity among team members. A new study finds that workplace favoritism is widespread and affects morale and retention. Poor morale in turn automatically affects engagement, productivity and the company's bottom line. This new research shows that nine in ten employees have observed workplace favoritism, and it's pushing workers out of traditional jobs into side hustles.
SideHustles.com surveyed 1,000 American employees on the widespread impact of workplace favoritism on employee satisfaction, retention and team dynamics. Key results include:
Additional Findings Include:
The study reports that the largest group of employees (55%) who benefit most from workplace favoritism are those with personal ties to management. Others include well-connected employees; workers favored for gender, age or a specific demographic; shared interests or hobbies with management; high performers; and leadership or client-facing roles.
The most common forms of workplace favoritism are:
1. Favorable treatment based on personal relationships (61%)
2. Favoritism in work assignments (44%)
3. Favoritism in schedule flexibility or remote work privileges (41%)
4. Unequal opportunities for promotions (40%)
5. Preferential treatment during conflict resolution or disciplinary actions (34%)
6. Allocation of resources such as budgets, tools or team support (25%)
7. Favoritism tied to performance metrics (25%)
8. Unequal access to training or professional development opportunities (19%)
I spoke by email with Ed Huang, side hustle and finance expert at SideHustles.com. 'We were shocked to find that nine in 10 employees have witnessed favoritism in the workplace, and it's quite telling to see that one in five Americans have already turned to freelancing or started their own business just to escape it,' Huang says. 'It's not just about unfair promotions or who gets the best assignments. Our findings indicate that favoritism is actively pushing people out of traditional jobs--especially among Gen Z and millennials--where over 40% have considered quitting because of it.'
According to Huang, this shift explains the growing popularity of side hustles. 'Workers are craving autonomy, equity and a chance to grow based on merit—not manager preference,' he point out. 'With one in 10 planning to quit this year due to favoritism, side gigs are becoming more than just extra income; they're a career safety net.'
We all want to be recognized for our hard work. But workplace favoritism can eclipse the outstanding work we do. Still, there are positive ways you can get noticed at work. Studies show that you don't have to be loud and obnoxious to get noticed by your employer. Although it takes extra time and effort to gain visibility, the payoff is well worth the effort. Here are 10 ways you to make sure your hard work gets noticed without boasting when all the attention is going to a select few.
Huang underscores why it's important for employers to address workplace favoritism. 'Whether it's freelancing, remote work or launching a small business, today's workforce is taking control where traditional employers fall short. If companies don't address favoritism with real accountability, they risk losing top talent to the gig economy, one hustle at a time.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
From lottery tickets to life insurance: Here are 6 ‘bad assets' that could cause you to retire poor in America
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links. You probably know the importance of retiring with a hefty, well-diversified portfolio of assets. But what if some of your assets are actually hidden liabilities? Here are the top seven tempting but deceptive money drains that you could trap yourself in before retirement. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) If you're financially secure, splurging on your 'dream car' can be the ultimate temptation. But the average new car loses roughly 30% of its value within the first two years alone, according to Kelley Blue Book. New cars also often have higher insurance premiums compared to used cars. The depreciation rate slows down after those initial years, which means buying a modestly used car at an affordable price is a better way to secure your financial future. Plus, you can benefit from a lower insurance bill. According to a MarketWatch study, full-coverage insurance on new cars averages $168 per month, while used car owners typically pay $150 monthly. That means new car owners pay an extra $216 a year. You can lower your insurance premiums further by shopping around and comparing rates from leading providers through OfficialCarInsurance. Simply answer some basic questions about yourself, your driving history and the type of vehicle you drive then OfficialCarInsurance will show you rates from reputable insurance providers like GEICO, Allstate and Progressive. The best part? The process is completely free and won't affect your credit score. Get started and find rates as low as $29 per month. Buying a timeshare in Cabo Verde and spending your retirement on a beach is undoubtedly attractive, but there are caveats. Timeshare ownership involves steep initial costs, recurring maintenance fees, low resale potential and rigid usage schedules. On top of that, the secondary market is notoriously poor, and many owners struggle to exit their agreements. Instead of locking yourself into a timeshare, consider creating an annual travel fund for vacation rentals in your retirement plan. One option is opening a high-yield savings account. These plans can offer up to 10 times the national APY of 0.41%. There is a market for luxury collectibles such as vintage cars, designer handbags and luxury watches, but that doesn't mean a Rolex deserves a spot in your retirement portfolio. Collectors of all kinds can be fickle. What's considered valuable today may not be worth as much by the time you retire. Diamonds, for instance, were a popular collectible, but prices have declined by 26% in just the last two years, according to The Guardian. With that in mind, it might pay to avoid the glamorous and focus on safer investments like corporate bonds or dividend stocks. Investing small sums consistently can be rewarding, thanks to the benefits of compounding interest. For instance, investing $30 each week for a period of 20 years can add up to over $76,000, assuming it compounds at 8% annually. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — Buying lottery tickets or going all in on a new cryptocurrency is rarely a good idea, regardless of your age. But the risks are magnified when you're older and approaching the end of your career. Instead of indulging in wishful thinking that a meme-coin or random penny stock is going to make you rich overnight, consider the safer path to retirement. Focus on assets that are relatively stable and can act as a hedge against inflation, like gold. A gold IRA can be a valuable tool — it combines the inflation-resistant properties of the precious metal with the tax advantages of an IRA. One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals. Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases. Rental income from a robust portfolio of real estate is a great way to enhance your passive income in retirement. But if you're on a fixed income, you should recognize the fact that your capacity for risk is much lower. As a retired landlord, you can't afford a sudden housing market crash or interest rate volatility. One option to make your dollars stretch is to consider tapping into the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market by investing in home equity agreements (HEAs). Homeshares allows accredited investors to gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top cities across the country through their U.S. Home Equity Fund. This approach enables investors to unlock lucrative real estate opportunities without the headaches of buying, owning or managing properties. With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, the Homeshares U.S. Home Equity fund offers accredited investors a low-maintenance alternative to traditional property ownership. Despite what salesmen might say, whole life insurance isn't always the ideal retirement vehicle. These plans can usually be more expensive than term life insurance, and you have limited control over how the capital is invested. Instead, you could consider term life insurance that protects your loved ones if the worst comes to pass. With Ethos Insurance you can sign up and get instant life insurance without any medical exams or blood tests. The process takes just 10 minutes, and you can get up to $3 million in coverage starting at just $2 per day. Ethos has a 30-day free look period with a money-back guarantee, meaning you can get a full refund if you aren't satisfied. JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it's too late) Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among America's wealthiest — plus a few strategies to build that first-class portfolio You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Access to this $22.5 trillion asset class has traditionally been limited to elite investors — until now. Here's how to become the landlord of Walmart or Whole Foods without lifting a finger This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Trump order seeks to boost U.S. drone industry
June 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump is taking aim at drone technology from two directions -- boost the U.S. industry and crack down on malicious activity. Trump on Friday signed executive orders on efforts to spur U.S. production relevant to drone technology, increase U.S. drone security and regulation efforts, and an unleated one to promote design and eventual use of commercial supersonic aircraft. "Unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America's leadership in global innovation," an executive order titled Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty read. "But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland. Another order, titled Unleashing American Drone Dominance, declares that "building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people." There are more than a million registered drones in the United States, according to the FAA with more than 400,000 commercial drones and more than 350,000 for recreational use. In a press release, the Commercial Drone Alliance said it has "believed that innovation and security are two sides of the same coin. Outdated regulations have long impeded technological innovation and hindered transparency in our airspace." Lisa Ellman, chief executive of the Commercial Drone Alliance, also lauded the executive orders for aiming at both innovation and security simultaneously. "We fully support the long-overdue steps taken by the Trump administration in these Executive Orders -- establishing a framework to scale safe and secure drone operations while enhancing drone security and airspace transparency -- to modernize our domestic drone policy and assure American aviation leadership into the next century of flight," she said in the release. Drone dangers Trump has warned that drones have been used to smuggle drugs across borders, and could threaten large public gatherings, such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, both in the United States. "It is the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS," the security related order reads. Chinese-made drones from companies like DJI or Autel are not outright banned, but the Federal Acquisition Security Council has been called on to "publish a Covered Foreign Entity List ... identifying companies that pose supply chain risks." In 2022, the U.S. Treasury added DJI and seven other companies to its Chinese Military-Industrial Complex list, which indicates some level of national security concern. The includes a ban on U.S.-based companies exporting technology to them. The majority of drones are estimated to be built in China, The New York Times reported. The Justice Department and FAA were told to enforce civil and criminal penalties for drone operators who violate laws or airspace restrictions. There will be grants for state and local law enforcement to access drone-detection and tracking equipment. The Federal Aviation Administration requires all drones weighing more than 0.55 of a pound to be registered, in addition to restricting how high they can be flown without authorization. The Justice Department and FAA were told to more robustly enforce civil and criminal penalties for drone operators who violate laws or airspace restrictions. Grant programs are planned for state and local law enforcement to access drone-detection and tracking equipment., the order also indicates Drone industry growth In his first term, Trump sought to increase the use of drones and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been directed to promote exports of U.S.-made drones, in addition to federal agencies being ordered to prioritize purchases of them. "The United States must accelerate the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into the National Airspace System," the order reads. "The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets." The order directs the FAA to allow commercial users and public safety officials not to fly drones beyond their range of sight, meaning that a user must be able to see the drone they are operating. "Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people," the order says. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy was directed to initiate artificial intelligence tools to assist in and expedite the review of a UAS waiver application, and the Transportation Department was told to develop an Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Pilot Program to accelerate the deployment of safe and lawful eVTOL operations in the United States. Supersonic flight An additional executive order titled "Leading the World in Supersonic Flight" seeks to promise planes that travel at supersonic speeds, which are greater than the speed of sound at approximately 768 mph at sea level, or Mach 1. "The United States stands at the threshold of a bold new chapter in aerospace innovation," the order reads. "For more than 50 years, outdated and overly restrictive regulations have grounded the promise of supersonic flight over land, stifling American ingenuity, weakening our global competitiveness, and ceding leadership to foreign adversaries." The order noted that "advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable." The order repeals regulations prohibiting cross-country supersonic flights, which for decades have precluded nonmilitary air travel over land at faster-than-sound speeds. The Concorde was manufactured from 1965 to 1979, but are no longer flown by airlines, however, Boom Supersonic and NASA are currently developing new supersonic passenger jets. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
an hour ago
Economy steady amid global tariff war
Despite a dip in May's jobs report, Americans seem to show resiliency as an ongoing tariff war shakes stocks for Tesla and Lululemon. ABC News' Phil Lipof has the latest numbers. June 7, 2025
