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Hi! I’m Peter, CEO of Kickresume, and these career-related stories caught my attention this month — and might catch yours too.

Lately, I've been hearing a ton about "quiet quitting". A trend where people just do the bare minimum to avoid getting fired, essentially checking out from their jobs without actually packing up and leaving. 

Now, there seems to be a UNO reverse card. Quiet firing.

Here I was, thinking us employers already had enough bad rep…

It's not right, it's cowardly, and if it's happening to you, it's even worse. 

I want to make sure you know all about it, so you can look out for yourself.

The employers' UNO reverse card

So, what is “quiet firing” really? 

Apparently, it's a tactic (or actually many different tactics) employers use to make certain employees feel unwelcome without directly saying so. 

The goal? To make these employees feel undervalued or out of place, nudging them to quit on their own. 

After some digging, I found the ultimate quiet firing story for you.

Frédéric Desnard, once a high-level manager at a French perfume company, was demoted and asked to carry out much duller tasks (allegedly order paper once a month). Still, he had to sit at the office for 8 hours a day. For 4 years. He became depressed, and admitted that he “was ashamed to be paid to do nothing."  

Fréderic then sued the company for more than $400,000 as compensation for the mental health damages it allegedly caused. But that's beside the point. (You can read more of his story here if you're interested)

Quiet firing is sneaky, it's shady, and surprisingly common. I'll let the stats speak…

A staggering 80% of participants of a recent LinkedIn News poll have either experienced quiet firing or seen it happen to someone they know. 

And yep, 29% of managers have admitted to quietly firing someone, according to a JobSage survey.

But why do bosses do this instead of just firing people the normal way?

No surprise, the answer is (always) money. 

Severance pay? Not if you leave on your own. 

The fuss of a formal firing? Skipped. 

Potential wrongful termination lawsuits? Avoided if you resign. (Also, money saved).

Believe it or not, 56% of managers admitted having employees they'd rather see go "if only it were easier." 

Quiet firing, it seems, is their quiet (and borderline illegal – if you ask me) solution.

And what do you do if it's happening to you?

First of all, I'm sorry you're going through this. 

And for what it's worth, my advice is – don't rush for the exit, don't let them win. 

Quitting impulsively means you could miss out on severance that you're entitled to, so it's crucial to play your cards right. 

Here's what you do:

1. Document everything — odd tasks, missing feedback, any shift in communication. 

2. The best antidote to the silent treatment is communication. Pick up the courage (that they apparently don't have), and have an awkward chat with your boss.

3. Meanwhile, discreetly kickstart your job search. Be ready, so when the time comes, you're not caught off guard.

Or, you know, quit. I wouldn't blame you. If you find yourself facing this situation, remember, it's not a reflection of your value. 

It's a sign to reassess and find a place where you're appreciated and heard.

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Random piece of career advice

Sticking to the topic… Are you being quiet-fired? 

Truth is, many employees don't realize they're being quiet-fired until it's too late.

Why? Well, the signs are often so subtle you may mistake them for simply not being your boss' favorite person.

These are the 7 signs to look out for:

1. You're experiencing a lack of communication.

2. Your boss is ghosting you.

3. Your boss is paying you an unusual amount of attention.

4. You're being passed over for raises or promotions.

5. You're no longer offered opportunities for professional growth.

6. Your job responsibilities suddenly changed.

7. Your contributions go unacknowledged.

You can also check 20 other not-so-quiet signs you're about to be fired. 

Thanks for sticking with me to the end. 

Since no great scroller should go unrewarded, here’s a 20% discount code for Kickresume Premium. 

Catch you later!

Peter