One of the most striking aspects of Liu’s story isn’t that she burned out. It’s that she had the self-awareness and support to pause. That quitter label hits hard and fast, but research provides insights into why people quit. Employees may feel pushed away from their current roles (e.g., I’m bored with my work, I feel unsupported, or work is dominating my life) or pulled toward something new (e.g., I can reset my life and start over, I’ll be recognized for the impact of my work somewhere else, or my values will better align with a new company). These pushes and pulls underscore four big reasons why people leave: