A new survey from resume-building platform Resume Now reveals that many employees are losing trust in their employers—and it’s leading them to consider quitting, staying silent, and hiding their true selves.
The Ethics Fallout Report, based on a May 2025 survey of 1,000 U.S. employees, finds a crisis of credibility in corporate culture. Nearly one in two workers (47%) say they’ve thought about quitting because their employer’s actions didn’t match its stated values. Another 36% say they’ve stayed silent about unethical behavior to protect their job.
- Related article: 70% of Employees Say Workplace Leaders Bend Rules for Favorites
“When people feel they cannot speak up without facing consequences, they stop trying,” Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, said in a statement. “A culture that punishes honesty or protects bad behavior does more than lose trust. It drives people out. Workers are paying attention to what companies do, not just what they say.”
Key findings from the survey include:
- 47% have considered quitting over values misalignment.
- 36% stayed silent about unethical behavior to protect themselves.
- 21% admit they’ve lied to protect their image or job.
- Only 26% would definitely report an unethical boss.
Among the top behaviors workers say they’ve witnessed are:
- 21% saw retaliation after someone spoke up.
- 9% say diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts exist only for show.
- 43% witnessed favoritism in promotions or raises.
- Only 34% say none of these issues have occurred at their workplace.
Employees also say they feel inauthentic and unsafe at work.
- 54% feel pressure to “fit the mold” at work.
- Just 41% feel comfortable raising ethical concerns.
- 44% would only recommend their company depending on the team; 16% say “no way.”
“Values only matter when they apply to everyone,” Spencer said. “If leaders ignore misconduct or protect high performers who cross the line, employees will not stick around. People want to work where they feel respected, safe, and heard.”
The findings in this report are based on a survey conducted with 1,000 U.S. workers on May 6, 2025. Participants were asked about ethical behavior, trust in leadership, and alignment between stated company values and lived experiences. The survey included a mix of multiple choice, scaled-response, binary, and multi-select questions to capture a wide range of perspectives on workplace culture and ethics. Of the respondents, 56% identified as male, 43% as female, and less than 1% as nonbinary or preferred not to answer. In terms of age, 15% were 18-27, 29% were 28-43, 32% were 44-60, and 23% were 61-79.
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Tags: employees, ethics, Payroll, quitting job, unethical behavior
