To think that most job vacancies exist because people are leaving their manager, not the job itself?

[MyAmusedOpalCrab]

Everyone always talks about “career moves” or “new opportunities” but in my experience, most people leave because they can’t stand their manager, not because they hate the actual work. A toxic or incompetent boss can make even a decent job unbearable. But no one really says it out loud, it’s always framed as something more neutral.

AIBU to think that behind most resignations, there’s a manager being quietly avoided?

Over the course of 30 years employment I have only left a job twice due to the manager. Otherwise I left to do something new, move countries, promotion, loads of reason.

My DH went on a course at work titled “bad managers ruin lives” or something like that - I’ve certainly left due to bad managers but mostly for money (although sometimes the bad manager is the reason why I feel underpaid).

Where I am currently, everyone leaves due to bad managers (v high turnover) but the managers are oblivious to how bad they are so the cycle is never ending.

I definitely think it's a common reason, but in my experience I've only ever done that once. Any other time I've left a job it's because I've felt I learnt all I could there and wanted a new challenge or wanted to move up I'm my field and wanted more financial security.

Life is very expensive now and I think people simply are pushed to moving more.

Yep, left a Gov workplace because the bullies were left to bully others and the managers did nothing about it.

Same here. My manager is fab but I’ve nowhere to go and they won’t pay for any training to engage my brain.

I've definitely heard it said. Do you ever read the "Ask A Manager" website? Comes up a lot on there.

I can only speak personally, but I don't remember this ever being a motive for me leaving a job. It's either been a desire for promotion, or disliking the job itself. I've had my share of bad managers but usually they've moved on before I got to the stage of moving on myself.