‘Quiet cracking’ is a dangerous workplace trend — here’s how to spot it

There are a lot of cracks in that employee.

If lately you’ve been feeling less motivated, unproductive or like it’s a struggle to drag yourself to work every day — you might be experiencing “quiet cracking.”

Some describe this term as a gradual burnout that can sneak up without you even realizing it. Think of a plate with some cracks in it — the plate is intact until one day it finally shatters.

That’s what’s happening to many employees who are sinking into an unhappy hole at work.

This workplace epidemic is affecting many, as more than half of employees have experienced quiet cracking at some point in their careers, according to data from a TalentLMS survey.

And multiple things can cause an employee to feel this way.

“Quiet cracking may be caused by managers not providing enough support and recognition, leading employees to feel undervalued,” Peter Duris, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kickresume, said in a statement, according to HRD America.

“With no progression in sight and a lack of purpose, employees may be asking themselves what the point of their role is. This often leads to dissatisfaction and a loss in motivation.”

It turns out that 15% of employees don’t have a clear understanding of their role, and 29% feel overwhelmed at work with an unmanageable workload, according to the survey.

The unfortunate news is that both of these experiences can create a breeding ground for quiet cracking.

If you’re reading this nodding your head in agreement, experts say the best thing you can do is talk to your manager about how you’re feeling.

Quiet cracking will only get worse if left ignored — which may lead to revenge quitting, something Gen Zers know a thing or two about.

“Revenge quitting is on the rise,” said content creator Ben Askins of the bizarre workplace trend.

“This is the new idea of people choosing to quit their jobs in the most inconvenient way possible in order to disrupt the business,” he said in a video. “It’s a form of protest against what they perceived as unfair treatment.”

Some examples of revenge quitting are walking out mid-shift or leaving a place that you are well aware is short-staffed and is in dire need of help.