Quiet Attitude Trend Invades Offices: Here’s How To Stop It Happening To You

Immediately after “quiet quitting,” the new workplace trend of “quiet hiring” has emerged as employees struggle to fill roles and recruit new hires.

On TikTok, Gen Z and Millennials say the new trend could lead to burnout and increased workloads with no financial payoff.

But others say there could be a “silver lining” of greater opportunity that should lead to better communication between employers and their employees.

HR coach and workplace TikTokker KeninHR said the practice is being used by companies to “learn new skills” by rotating existing employees or hiring contract workers to fill a vacancy.

After “quiet quitting”, the new trend in the workplace is currently called “quiet hiring”. The picture shows a woman working in an office

“People are upset because they see companies paying people the same or less for more work,” he warned.

“If this happens to you, you should be compensated for doing everything you can and for a quality job.”

Popular TikTok careers expert Sweta Regmi called the new trend “wage theft.”

“Silent hiring is wage theft and job abuse if you don’t get a raise,” she wrote in a TikTok video.

However, some recruiting experts believe the trend is a direct response to employers’ hiring difficulties and gaps that need to be filled by existing staff.

Jane Lowney, director of global recruitment firm Robert Walters, told NCA NewsWire, “As a recruiter helping companies hire, there is absolutely no lack of appetite to hire.

“I think it’s inevitable in a short market that people will be expected to do a little more work if the company needs it for a period of time.

Popular TikTok careers expert Sweta Regmi (pictured) called the new trend “wage theft.”

“But that doesn’t mean they’re not recruiting to replace that role or add additional heads. I think it’s just taking longer than you expected.

Although Ms Lowney has observed the rise of casual work – where people hire freelance and contract workers on a temporary basis – she believes it is more of a temporary recruitment effort.

“We’re certainly seeing customers who would have traditionally hired staff on a permanent basis willing to hire them on a fixed-term basis if that’s the only way to get resources,” she said.

How to use it to your advantage

While an increased workload is a major concern, Ms Lowney said there is a silver lining to accepting work outside of your defined role.

“Often when you look critically at your own skills and where you want to get to, the most ambitious will raise their hands for more work when there’s a gap that really gives themselves that well-rounded skill set,” she said.

However, Ms Lowney stressed that the question of ‘what’s in it for me’ is important.

Recruitment expert Jane Lowney (pictured) said younger workers are reluctant to communicate with their employers

“First ask these questions: ‘Does this expand my skills? Will I do something I normally wouldn’t do? What will it look like in six months when I complete this project and will it add value to my career? Aspirations?”” she said.

“If the answer to these questions is yes, then 100 percent seize the opportunity.”

When it comes to most social media-driven employment trends like quitting quietly, Ms Lowney eyed her with a raised eyebrow.

While there may be a generational gap that assumes “the company is always there to do the wrong thing,” she says, it also reflects younger workers’ reluctance to communicate with their employers.

HR coach and workplace TikTokker KeninHR (pictured) predicts silent hiring will be the dominant trend in 2023.

“They observe something happening, but they don’t feel comfortable enough challenging or asking why. Instead, they label it,” she said.

“If you think this is happening at your company, have the conversation. Ask when you want it resolved.

“I think we shy away from these talks.”