Last year, “quiet quitting” trended in the Human Resources sphere wherein employees perform only the minimum requirements for their job and refuse to go beyond that. In response to this, many employers started implementing “quiet firing” strategies, where they did not provide appropriate training or advancement opportunities, essentially forcing the employee to leave. As a result the term “quiet hiring” has emerged and is gaining traction in the HR field.
What is quiet hiring?
Although quiet hiring trended this year, experts suggest that it is not a new concept. With this method, employers aim to maximize their workforce productivity without having to increase their full-time staff. This entails addressing skill gaps by providing existing employees with additional duties, contracting outside talent, or temporarily rehiring former employees (known as “boomerang employees”) to help manage the added workload.
In today’s economy, recessions are rampant which led businesses to tighten their budget. When an employee resigns, the organization may opt not to replace them, resulting in an increased workload for the remaining employees.
Furthermore, Emily McRae, a Human Resources specialist, has expressed concern regarding the use of quiet hiring, although it may bring benefit to the organization, it may cause frustration among workers who are not keen on transitioning to positions that do not pique their interest.
Organizations that want to make this method effective shouldn’t simply request that individuals take on more responsibilities. Instead, they should consider offering incentives such as pay raises, one-time bonuses, extra paid time off, and mental health and wellness benefits.
HR practitioners should ensure that the important details should be properly conveyed to the employees such as providing salary increments, clear expectations, extra training opportunities, project duration, and how it aligns with their future endeavors.
Quiet hiring is not only advantageous to the organization but also to the employees. It gives them the chance to take on stretch assignments, develop their existing skills, learn new ones, and extend their careers. This can make them invaluable to their current organization and more marketable to other businesses.
According to Real Research Media, survey 12.84% of employees believed that quiet hiring provided an opportunity to work in different job roles within the same organization. Other benefits perceived by employees include the ability to acquire new skills (8.78%), prospects for career growth (8.34%), heightened job security (8.16%), and the possibility of receiving a promotion (7.01%).
Real Research media also investigated the primary disadvantage of quiet hiring for employees. Responses revealed that 14.05% did not experience any drawbacks. Among those who did, 11.37% of respondents frequently mentioned fatigue and burnout resulting from multiple workloads.
In this regard, organizations should be mindful of how much they order their employees, particularly during a time when many may already feel overburdened or exhausted. It’s important to find a balance between fostering employee skill development and safeguarding their well-being. Business leaders who can successfully achieve this balance can gain a significant competitive edge for their organizations.
