It’s the question too many professionals silently ask themselves: Do I stay or do I go?
At first glance, staying in a secure job feels like the practical option. You’ve invested years, built relationships, and collected a steady paycheque. But here’s the harsh truth: staying in a job you no longer care about can be far more damaging than walking away.
A 2023 report by Gallup revealed that 59% of employees worldwide are “quiet quitting”—disengaged, unmotivated, and emotionally detached from their work.
The long-term toll is significant. Prolonged disengagement has been linked to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, while also contributing to poor workplace performance and strained relationships both inside and outside the office.
Even more confronting? A Harvard Business Review study found that employees who feel stuck or uninspired are 34% more likely to report poor mental health.
Over time, this stagnation seeps into all corners of life—eroding confidence, creativity, damaging family relationships, and even physical wellbeing.
From an organisational lens, the cost is equally high. Disengaged employees are 18% less productive and contribute to 37% higher absenteeism, according to Gallup.
For leaders, this means teams underperform, culture declines, and innovation stalls.
So why do people stay?
Fear. Fear of the unknown, financial insecurity, or simply not knowing what’s next.
But the data doesn’t lie—career inertia is quietly costing professionals their energy, effectiveness, and joy.
Making the decision to leave isn’t reckless; it’s often the most courageous act of leadership you can take over your own life.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, it takes reflection. But it also opens the door to re-engagement, renewed purpose, and stronger performance—personally and professionally.
So next time you hear yourself asking, “Do I stay or do I go?”, consider this: if your current role is draining your passion, it may already be costing you more than you realise.
The better question might be: What is it costing me to stay?
