Quiet cutting refers to when employers cut down on their employees to subtly reduce their workforces by downgrading roles, responsibilities, and/or compensation in the hopes that employees will be persuaded to quit on their own.
77% of workers have witnessed quiet cutting at their company, and 58% say they have been impacted by it
The majority of workers have complaints about their opportunities for growth at their company. In the past year, workers:
- Reported a lack of opportunity for upwards mobility (59%)
- Experienced a lack of career direction from their direct manager (57%)
- Did not receive an expected bonus (36%)
- Did not receive a promotion they thought was deserved (31%)
- Had a salary reduction (15%)
The following are approaches workers reported they would take if they realized they were being impacted by quiet cutting:
Talk it out
- 24% would speak with their supervisor immediately
- 24% would ask their manager how they could improve their performance
- 20% would speak with HR
- 14% would speak with executive leadership
Adapt
- 27% would remain in their role and adapt to changes
- 21% would attempt to negotiate the terms of their modified role
- 10% would work harder to preserve their role
Leave
- 18% would quit immediately
Do nothing
- However, 9% of workers would do nothing if they realized they were being impacted by quiet cutting
Knowing quiet cutting is occurring at their company has affected workers’ performance in the following ways:
- 80% have less trust or loyalty to their employer
- 65% report that it contributes to a toxic work environment
- 64% experience a negative impact on their relationship with leadership
- 62% find work to be more stressful
- 58% feel less motivated to execute their duties
- 58% report their overall wellbeing has suffered
- Only 2% of workers say it has had no impact on them
Workers who have witnessed or directly experienced quiet cutting have seen their long term relationship with their company impacted in the following ways:
- 79% lost trust in their company
- 79% no longer feel loyal to their employer
- 75% wouldn’t recommend their company to a friend
- 73% lost respect for their senior leadership
- 71% are no longer interested in a long term role at their company
Methodology
Monster survey conducted among workers, March 2024.
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