by Dr. Anjum Qureshi
A workplace is built on the efforts of its employees. Every employee plays an important role and contributes in their own way to the success of the organisation. Most people try their best to deliver good results. At times, they even sacrifice their work-life balance because they want their organisation to grow and succeed. Many employees can also cope with imperfect leadership and challenging work conditions. However, things begin to change when they feel that their hard work and dedication are not being recognised.
I remember a friend sharing an experience with me. She had informed her boss that she would be out of town for three days and would not be available for office work during that period. Her boss refused to allow it, saying that it was a crucial time for the organisation and that she needed to prioritise work. Wanting to support the organisation, she agreed and continued working.
The company achieved its goals, and the project was successful. However, a few weeks later, she called me in tears and told me that she had decided to resign. When I asked her why, she explained that her sincerity, loyalty, and commitment were never appreciated. Instead, she saw people being rewarded for flattery, gossip, office politics, and ego. She felt that no matter how hard she worked, those qualities mattered more than genuine contribution. Eventually, she left the organisation and found a new job.
Unfortunately, this story is not uncommon. It is a reality in many organisations across different sectors. When employees leave, people often assume that they have moved for a higher salary. While better pay can certainly be a reason, it is not always the main one. Many employees leave because career growth and promotions are influenced by politics, favoritism, and personal connections rather than loyalty, integrity, sincerity, and competence.
Some people may choose to compromise and play the game to secure promotions or salary increases. However, many hard-working professionals are unwilling to do so. When they repeatedly see politics being rewarded while genuine effort is ignored, they begin to feel that resignation is the better option.
This process rarely happens overnight. Employees do not always express their disappointment openly. Instead, they slowly disengage. They stop sharing ideas, reduce their enthusiasm, and become less involved in organisational activities. Quietly, they begin updating their resumes and exploring new opportunities. They struggle to accept a system where merit is ignored and favouritism is rewarded.
Fair recognition is one of the strongest motivators in any workplace. Employees want to believe that their efforts will be rewarded fairly. When promotions are perceived as unfair, trust in the system begins to decline. When undeserving individuals are rewarded and personal connections influence important decisions, sincere and hardworking employees become demoralized. They start questioning the value of their efforts and wonder whether their dedication truly matters.
As a result, capable employees often choose to leave. Rather than engaging in office politics, they prefer to work in environments where contributions are respected and performance is valued. They know that their skills and experience can help them find opportunities elsewhere.
Organisations often fail to recognize the long-term damage caused by wrong promotions. When favouritism becomes normal, innovation, collaboration, and accountability begin to suffer. Employees spend more time trying to please people than focusing on meaningful work. Over time, this weakens the culture and performance of the organisation. The consequences extend far beyond the loss of a few employees. Organisations lose experienced professionals, valuable knowledge, and future leaders. Wrong promotions may satisfy a few individuals for a short time, but they can drive away valuable assets permanently.
Every organisation should remember one important truth: people can tolerate pressure, challenges, and even imperfect leadership. What they find difficult to tolerate is unfairness. When the wrong people are promoted, the right people start writing their resignations.
Dr. Anjum Nazir Qureshi, Assistant Professor, RCERT, Chandrapur. (TEDx Speaker, Author, POSH Trainer)
