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According to a Glassdoor Community poll, 93 percent of workers stay in jobs they do not love for stability, with 63 percent describing their relationship with work as “complicated” or “ready to break up,” a concept the company calls “job situationships.” While the term may be new, the profiles of employee tolerances are worth considering as management and teams work to adjust and redefine workplace cultures.
The situationship term may apply to some animal health pros who are not the primary earner in their family. 2022 data indicated that the average length of veterinary technician employment at their current job was 6.8 years <Link>. Another source presents these turnover rates: 10.3 percent for managers, 16 percent for associate veterinarians, 23.4 percent for veterinary technicians, 32.5 percent for receptionists, and 32.9 percent for all other staff <Link>.
Source: HR Dive, February 10, 2026. Link. The era of the job situationship was first attributed to Generation Z workers but has grown to include multiple generations. Job situationship is defined as a professional state where workplace culture and job satisfaction exist in a murky middle ground between commitment and calling it quits.
Management is cited as the top reason workers stay at companies and also the top reason for a negative work experience.
INSIGHTS: Situationships are most frequently described in the context of personal relationships where statements are shared like, “okay for now,” or “I’ll stay for a while to see if things improve.” Researching the situationship topic brought up a 2023 post, “Work is NOT your family.” <Link>.
Also see: We’re colleagues. Sometimes friends, but not family, AHD Archives. Link.
Image: Link.
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