A majority of those expecting a holiday bonus this year are planning to check out once the check clears.
According to a recent survey of 2,000 American workers by AI job application assistant JobHire AI, 59% are “maybe” or “definitely” expecting a bonus this year. Among them, 48% are already job hunting or planning to quit after their bonus is paid, and another 20% are considering leaving in the new year.
The job market often sees a lot of activity following the holiday lull, as many spend the break reflecting on the previous year and setting goals for the next.
This year, however, may see even more aggressive job -hopping, as many workers have become more financially dependent on their year-end bonus—meaning more are hanging on to a job they don’t want until after it’s been paid out.
From Bonus to Baseline
According to the survey, 27% of workers say their annual bonus is “essential” for their household finances and another 42% say it “helps a lot.”
“The survey highlighted that something that was previously used as a retention tool became more like a way to delay resignations,” says JobHire AI’s CEO Artem Zakharov. “Workers have come to view the bonus as a financial lifeline, but not a reason to stay.”
Overall, 68% of survey respondents admit to having stayed at a job longer than they wanted just to collect their bonus before leaving in the past, and many say they’re planning to do the same this year.
