Unveiling the Concept of Quiet Firing: Drawbacks and Strategies to Avoid It
In the dynamic world of work, a worrying trend has emerged: Quiet Firing. This is a workplace phenomenon where employers subtly encourage employees to resign rather than outright firing them. This practice can lead to a cascade of adverse outcomes, including decreased employee trust, employee turnover, knowledge loss, and decreased profits.
According to a 2019 LinkedIn study, 94% of employees said they would stay with their employer if it invested in their development. However, poor management practices can create an environment where employees feel undervalued, excluded, and demoralized, leading them to quietly disengage or leave voluntarily.
The Impact of Low Engagement
Engaged teams are 21% more profitable than those with low engagement. Yet, Quiet Firing can lead to a decrease in employee engagement. By denying promotions or raises to an employee despite their qualifications and performance, managers can demotivate employees and signal to them that their career prospects within the company are limited.
The Role of Communication and Development
Offering no feedback or direction can impact an employee's ability to perform and grow, potentially leading to decreased job satisfaction and employee engagement. To avoid Quiet Firing, managers can take proactive steps such as fostering open communication, setting clear expectations, and investing in employee development and growth.
Providing bonuses and promotions for internal relationship-building activities can lead to higher job satisfaction and happiness levels among employees. On the other hand, excluding employees from team meetings, projects, or informal networks within the workplace can lead to miscommunications and low employee morale.
The Cost of Turnover
Quiet Firing increases turnover rates, which can cost employers up to 33% of an employee's annual salary. Knowledge loss is a risk of turnover and Quiet Firing, as organizations can lose valuable skills and institutional knowledge that are difficult to replace.
Common Management Mistakes
Common mistakes made by managers that can lead to Quiet Firing include micromanagement, lack of respect and exclusion, unfair workload and compensation, poor feedback practices, ignoring small complaints and concerns, passive-aggressive or toxic behaviors, favoritism and inconsistency. These management behaviors collectively create an environment where employees feel undervalued, excluded, and demoralized, which may prompt them to quietly disengage or leave voluntarily.
If word spreads that an employee was quietly fired, it can harm the company's reputation as a fair employer, potentially affecting the ability to attract top talent. In APA's 2023 Work in America workforce survey, 91% of respondents say having a job where they consistently have learning opportunities is essential. Employees are less engaged in their work when not being challenged and given development opportunities.
To maintain a productive and engaged workforce, it's crucial for managers to avoid these common mistakes and instead foster a positive, supportive, and growth-oriented work environment. By doing so, they can retain their valuable employees, foster a culture of learning and development, and ultimately drive the success of their organisation.
[1] LinkedIn. (2019). The Workforce Engagement Report. Retrieved from https://business.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/business-solutions/global/en_US/talent-solutions/content/pdf/engagement-report-2019.pdf
[2] Gallup. (2020). State of the American Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/264276/state-american-workplace.aspx
[3] Pew Research Center. (2021). U.S. workers are not using their vacation days. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/25/u-s-workers-are-not-using-their-vacation-days/
[4] Harvard Business Review. (2019). The Quiet Crisis of Quiet Firing. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/02/the-quiet-crisis-of-quiet-firing
[5] Forbes. (2018). The Quiet Firing Epidemic. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/02/08/the-quiet-firing-epidemic/?sh=5d0f2d162e25
- To combat Quiet Firing and maintain a productive workforce, managers can prioritize education-and-self-development and career-development opportunities, such as raising awareness about resources like online courses or workshops offered on platforms like Hubstaff's demo.
- By fostering an atmosphere that promotes employee growth and learning, employers can not only reduce Quiet Firing but also encourage employees to actively recommend the company as a positive work environment, thereby enhancing its reputation as an attractive and desirable place to work and learn.
