Whether they're marketing hype or legitimate trends, business buzzwords are ubiquitous these days, spreading through TikTok videos as much as in academic research. For some workplace specialists, it's a result of the pandemic upending so many assumptions about work that people have turned to new catchphrases to help make sense of it all. Here's a roundup of some of the most popular ones.
Career cushioning
Workers who want to prepare for potential layoffs are lining up a plan B job while still fully employed — especially when cuts are imminent. Typically this is discreet, like taking a networking call during a lunch break or making the effort to reconnect with old colleagues at another firm. In other cases, it's more overt, like when some Amazon HR staffers turned on their green LinkedIn "Open to Work" badges while still employed by the company.
Great resignation
An unprecedented number of workers were willing to leave their jobs in search of better opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., about one in five non-retired adults quit a job in 2021. The rate was about 37% of those younger than age 30.
Mattering
The belief employees hold that they are valued and important to others is key. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy specifically highlighted mattering as a way to lower stress at work, suggesting bosses provide a living wage, engage employees in decisions, build a culture of gratitude and connect the individual's work to the greater mission of the business.
Paper ceiling
Many postings have barriers, in the form of degree requirements, for job seekers without a college diploma. Often, negative stereotypes and hiring algorithms will screen out applicants without the credential. Half of the U.S. workforce lacks a four-year degree, and over 70 million people have developed skills on the job through military service or by attending community college or other training programs, according to research by Opportunity@Work.
Productivity paranoia
Executives fear that employees aren't getting enough done, especially in an environment of remote and hybrid work. According to a survey by Microsoft, though 87% of workers say they're productive at work, about 85% of managers say it's hard to know if that's true with the shift to hybrid work. That can lead to undesirable manager behavior, like spying on employees.
Quiet firing
This term refers to a manager who makes working life miserable for an employee that can go as far as forcing the employee to resign. It can include denying raises, blocking opportunities for growth or promotion and neglecting to give feedback. It's also sometimes known as "constructive discharge" or "constructive termination."
Quiet hiring
The act of assigning existing staff new duties or seeking freelancers or contractors to fill the gaps instead of adding full-time staff.
Quiet quitting
The term, a reflection of worker engagement refers to employees who decide to just do their jobs without going above and beyond or working past the official close of business. Some see it as a way to achieve work-life balance and pursue passions, while others fear it may put their jobs at risk in the event of a downturn.
Rage applying
The process of applying for several — even dozens — of other jobs in response to frustration at work. Changing jobs often came with a salary bump that got bigger at the end of 2022 in U.S.
Toggling tax
This is the amount of time lost when workers bounce between tabs and apps — on average, it amounts to four hours a week, the equivalent of five working weeks a year. It saps productivity, focus and engagement, researchers say.
