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Sep 12, 2022
Dan Rose, Content Creator at SkillPath
"Quiet firing" occurs when a boss subtly attempts to make an employee's job so stressful that the employee finally quits. This phenomenon isn't new; it's just that we now have a term for it. Bosses do this because, for whatever reason, they don't want to spend time, money, and resources to reskill, retrain and improve you professionally. So how can you identify when it's happening to you? And more importantly, how do you protect yourself from its consequences?
The term "quiet firing" was coined in response to the recent rise of "quiet quitting," popularized on social media. However, the actual practice has existed for longer than just a few weeks. Anyone working in the restaurant or retail industry has likely experienced a boss who cut their hours to practically nothing. They do this in the hopes that you'll quit, which can have many consequences, including a potential inability to get unemployment benefits. It also means that a company doing this won't have to worry about developing your skills or offer severance when you do quit.
Quiet quitting is a term first coined in 2009 by economist Mark Boldger, but recently, social media users have posted videos imploring people to stop overextending themselves at work at the risk of their mental and physical health. Not stop working entirely; just not saying "yes" to everything to avoid burning themselves out.
There are many examples of bosses and companies attempting to quiet fire a particular employee. Here are just a few of the most common:
In the business world, these are often subliminal ways of saying, "I want you to quit so I don't have to fire you and deal with the fallout from that."
Unfortunately, sometimes the behavior isn't so subtle. Workplace bullying, power plays by bosses, and constant criticism are also designed to break you down, make you question your abilities, and make you feel so insufficient that you practically run for the door to get out.
Are bullying and other potentially violent and toxic behaviors becoming a problem at your workplace? Look at our latest on-demand training event, Preventing and Handling Workplace Violence, Aggression and Bullying. With what you'll learn, you'll better assess the risk of violence at your office and discover what steps to take to protect your workers and your company's reputation
What you can do if you're a victim of quiet firing
So now that you know the signs, what can you do if you think this is happening to you?
If your manager or company purposely partakes in this kind of behavior, the fault lies with them, not you. If this is the case, it might be a good idea to consider quitting.
But there's also a chance your manager doesn't realize what they are doing is hurting others and how it's negatively affecting you and your team. In either case, there is a chance that you can put a stop to it. How? By doing the following:
This is your most important step. For example, if your boss cancels a one-on-one meeting, note when and why they did it if any. Every time something happens, write it down. Save a copy of every email and create a work journal. You can even include how the actions made you feel at the moment.
No matter what is going on, your boss owes it to you to sit down and discuss the situation, so make sure they do. Schedule the meeting, rather than dropping by unexpectedly, and try to stress the importance of the meeting to encourage them not to cancel subtly. Take your documentation in with you and calmly review what you've noted regarding the situation.
Suppose your boss does cancel or otherwise disregards your assertions. In that case, nothing will change, and you can quit, remain employed while looking for a job elsewhere, or, if the situation is bad enough, you can potentially file a lawsuit against your employer for creating a hostile work environment.
The best part of being an employee today is that your options for finding better places to work are plentiful due to companies embracing remote work. So now, finding a psychologically safe workplace has never been easier. Safeguard yourself, and you'll never regret it.
Dan Rose
Content Creator at SkillPath
Dan Rose is a content creator at SkillPath who uses his experience from a 30-year writing career to focus on timely events that impact today’s business world.
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