Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — The silent treatment isn’t just for relationships, it’s happening at work too. Remember quiet quitting, when employees stopped going above and beyond? Now quiet firing is on the rise, when bosses subtly edge workers out without ever saying, “you’re fired.”
It started as quiet quitting, it’s when employees do just enough to meet expectations. But experts say now we’re seeing the flip side: quiet firing.
A recent survey found nearly half of workers say they’ve experienced signs of quiet firing.
“I’m at work and all of a sudden nobody’s calling me into meetings, nobody’s asking for my opinion. It’s like other people are talking about projects and I’m saying, what project?” said Dwight Bain, Career Counselor.
So, what can you do? If you suspect you’re being quietly fired, start documenting changes, request regular feedback, and speak up early. If the pattern continues, start exploring new opportunities before you’re forced out.
For managers, the advice is just as clear. Be direct, give feedback, and don’t let frustration turn into silence. Experts say it’s time to turn up the volume and bring back real talk in the workplace because when everyone stops talking, everyone loses.
In a survey of more than a thousand U.S. business leaders, 42 percent said they’ve started quiet firing in 2025 and 11 percent plan to begin in 2026. How will they do it? Mandatory return to office policies, benefit cuts and increasing workloads.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
Source:
https://www.hrdive.com/news/employers-report-plans-to-quiet-fire/749427/
