The Great Stay: The workplace trend replacing The Great Resignation

During The Great Resignation of 2021 to 2023, employees left their roles in search of better pay, flexibility, and more fulfilling work.

Now there’s a new trend in the workplace: The Great Stay.

Let’s explore why more employees are remaining in their current roles, and how it might impact your workplace.

What is The Great Stay?

The Great Stay is a trend where people remain in roles they’re unhappy with, due to perceived economic and job market instability.

You may have already noticed the signs. A colleague leaving their camera off in meetings. An employee contributing only the bare minimum. Something in your team just feels “off.”

Voluntary resignation rates have already fallen below pre-pandemic levels, as fewer people are willing to make career changes. While this reduced turnover might seem like a win for employers, it hides a challenge.

Many people are only staying because they see no better options, which can lead to long-term problems like disengagement, decreased collaboration, and a negative company culture.

What’s causing The Great Stay?

A recent survey by MyPerfectResume revealed that 81% of employees feel anxious about possibly losing their jobs this year.

Market trends seem to justify this anxiety. In early 2025, layoff rates spiked to their highest since the pandemic, trade tensions and tariffs have led to global job losses, and hiring has slowed.

The rapid rise of AI has added to the uncertainty, with some employees worried their roles could be automated, making them less willing to risk a move into an unfamiliar company or industry.

The result? A workforce that is staying put longer because they see the job market as too unpredictable.

How much is The Great Stay costing your business?

Even at this early stage, the costs of The Great Stay are considerable. Harvard Business Review estimates that disengaged and “contentious” interactions at work can cost businesses over $2 billion a day in lost productivity and absenteeism.

And Sweden’s 2025 Konfliktbarometern report found that 82% of managers now encounter problematic behaviors like passive resistance or negativity once a month or more.

Left unchecked, these behaviors can become normalized throughout your organization. And once your company culture is damaged, it can affect revenue and your ability to recruit in the years to come.

How is The Great Stay affecting employee performance?

In a poll of U.S. workers, three-quarters expected layoffs to rise. This negative mindset can put a mental and emotional strain on employees, reducing innovation, problem-solving, and the overall performance of your business.

Once the psychological safety of having a steady job starts to slip away, employees who feel “stuck” might be less likely to take risks, share new ideas, or volunteer for projects.

In virtual settings, this may look like cameras staying off and fewer contributions in meetings. More broadly, you might notice reduced initiative, shorter conversations, or fewer people choosing to work in person.

Can The Great Stay lead to new business opportunities?

With fewer people leaving, leaders have a unique opportunity to shape their workplace into a space people choose to stay — not because they have to, but because they want to.

Here’s where you can make a real difference:

1. Start by conducting regular surveys to understand how employees feel, revealing any troubling patterns before they turn into problems.
2. Many negative behaviors often stem from uncertainty, so transparent communication can foster the psychological safety your teams need.
3. Offering opportunities for professional growth can help employees see a future for themselves within the organization.

How long will The Great Stay last?

As long as uncertainty remains high — whether due to inflation, geopolitical instability, or slow hiring — employees will be more likely to stay in their current roles.

The question is whether organizations will use this window to invest in engagement and culture, or if they’ll find themselves unprepared when the market improves.

How Winningtemp can help you make the most of The Great Stay

If you take action now, then The Great Stay doesn’t have to be a period of slow decline.

And you don’t have to figure this out alone. By combining AI-driven surveys with recommended actions, guided meetings, and targeted learning resources, Winningtemp can help you transform The Great Stay into a period of growth, loyalty, and exceptional performance.