Workplace Favoritism: One In 10 Are Quitting Over It

Forbes

23-04-2025

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.'