Are you being left out of office meetings that you were once a part of? Are you not being marked on emails that you would previously be looped into? Are you being left out of decision-making? Your boss might be quiet-firing you. Here’s what you should know about quiet-firing.
According to a Forbes report, quiet-firing refers to a phenomenon in which employers demoralise unwanted workers to the point that they decide to quit. Paul Lewis, Chief Customer Officer at Adzuna, defines it as “employers treating their staff in such a way it forces them to leave instead of directly laying them off.” But, he adds, “This term may simply just be a new moniker for a toxic work environment and workplace bullying.”
The practice is so prevalent that a recent LinkedIn News poll revealed that over 80% of the over 20,000 respondents admitted to facing it themselves or seeing it firsthand at work.
You are being quiet-fired when:
- You don’t receive feedback or praise
- Your boss doesn’t appreciate your work
- Your boss praises others for the same work but not you
- You are literally looked through
- Your annual raise is 3 per cent or even less
- Your one-on-one meetings with people who matter are rescheduled
- You are kept out of projects
- Your job title or description has changed
- You are asked to start documenting everything
Well, whether you like it or not, this is happening and it is better to accept the harsh reality if it’s happening to you. Watch out for all these signs and pull out your resume once again. Think afresh before your confidence is shattered.