In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive world, the concept of *quiet firing* is getting very common in work environments around the world.
Quiet firing is a phenomenon where employees are pushed out of their jobs. This certainly leads to a stressful environment and negatively impacts staff’s mental health, productivity, and overall quality of life, considering the biggest part of one’s day is spent at work.
Research studies show that quiet firing is a growing issue that affects millions of people worldwide.
According to a survey made by the Corporate Research Forum, almost one in five employees who left their job in the last five years did so because of a lack of communication and transparency from their employers.
Another study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that employees who were fired or pushed out of their jobs without any clear explanation experienced higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
What do people actually feel?
These employees may feel blindsided by the lack of communication and support from their bosses, which can lead to feelings like anger, betrayal, and a loss of confidence in their abilities. Usually, these situations are sugar coated by employers, making it seem like ‘it never happened’.
This is happening because employees who are being quietly fired are often given vague or incomplete feedback, or are simply ignored by their superiors. As a result, they may feel isolated and unsupported in their work environment, which can lead to a decline in job performance and a decrease in motivation.
Can it be fixed?
Sometimes, yes, but most often it is already too late to take action.
To address the issue of quiet firing, employers need to prioritize open and honest communication with their employees. This means providing regular feedback, setting clear expectations, and being transparent about any changes or challenges within the organization. Employers should also be WILLING to listen to their employees’ concerns and provide support when needed, whether that means offering additional training or resources, or simply being available to talk.
Employees can take steps to protect themselves from the negative effects of quiet firing. This may include building a strong network of colleagues, developing new skills and competencies at work and in personal life.
The most important action for employees is to prioritize their mental health and well-being, whether that means taking breaks throughout the day or seeking support from a therapist.
Even though there are ways to win the battle caused by the negative effects of quiet firing, most often it happens that employees are quietly quitting prior to taking the decision of leaving the company or position. This is not to be condemned, as the effects of such situations can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s life.
One step back can mean 10 steps forward.
