It is common for workers to feel exhausted and less inclined to show up for work each day. But what if it starts happening every day? It is likely that you are dealing with “quiet cracking”. There is a good chance that an employee will have a total collapse one day, much like tiny fractures on a plate could eventually lead to a breaking day.
According to recent research by Talent LMS, “Quiet Cracking is a persistent feeling of workplace unhappiness that leads to disengagement, poor performance, and an increased desire to quit. The research reveals that 1 in 5 employees say they are experiencing quiet cracking in one way or the other. 15% of employees who took part in the survey say they experience quiet cracking as they do not have a clear understanding of their role, and 29% feel overwhelmed at work with an unmanageable workload.
The impact is even more striking when it comes to feeling valued and recognised at work. Just 26% of employees regularly experiencing quiet cracking report feeling valued, while 80% of their peers who don’t face it feel recognised. This represents a 68% lower likelihood of feeling appreciated among those affected by quiet cracking. Another reason behind quiet cracking is management disconnect.
62% of employees feel their manager listens to their concerns, while 20% say their manager does not. However, among employees who report experiencing quiet cracking, nearly 47% say their managers do not listen to their concerns. To reduce the concerns around quiet cracking, the survey suggests doubling down on learning and development, recognising and appreciating talent regularly and setting the right kind of expectations. Quiet cracking can get worse, even if unattended. This could eventually lead to revenge quitting. Revenge quitting is another new trend that employees resign from their jobs, often abruptly and without proper notice. This is a form of retaliation for perceived mistreatment or toxic workplace conditions.
