Quiet quitting was all the rage in 2022 when workers around the world displayed their anger toward stagnating wages by choosing not to do anything more than what's absolutely necessary to keep their jobs. Running on autopilot, so to speak.

Now, in 2023, it seems employers are retaliating with what's been termed as quiet hiring. In this article, let's explore what quiet hiring is, what causes it, who it benefits, and how you can deal with it as an employee.

What Is Quiet Hiring?

While quiet quitting is about employees doing the bare minimum at their jobs, quiet hiring is about employers trying to acquire more talent and bandwidth without hiring more people.

Here's how it works: A company examines its workforce and singles out employees who are performing far below what their job description would entail. It would then either train them, shift them to different departments, assign them new roles, or exercise other methods to make the best use of their talents.

In other words, quiet hiring is an attempt by companies to get the most out of their existing staff—and hence increase productivity—without actually expanding the team and often without increasing pay.

Supporters of quiet hiring, mainly employers, argue that it helps employees learn new skills, get better roles, and become better team players. Critics of quiet hiring, mainly employees, argue that it promotes exploitation, normalizes misnomers, and stagnates wages.

What Caused Quiet Hiring, and Who Does It Benefit?

Man fired from job sitting on a chair

Before you pick which side you're on, let's first understand what caused quiet hiring to be a thing in the first place. Firstly, know that quiet hiring isn't a new thing; it's just a new name for an old business practice. Any smart business owner knows that hiring new talent is an expensive process, especially in fields that require more skill.

Now, this is fine if the company is in an expansion phase and is generally doing well. But in tough economic conditions where it's difficult to stay afloat, the logical thing to do is to halt hiring new talent and cut costs. So, naturally, existing staff members are expected to pick up the slack because the alternative, well, is getting fired.

Quiet hiring is not desirable by any means, but it's understandable given the current economic condition of the world. It's true that employers are the immediate beneficiaries of quiet hiring, but as an employee, you benefit by getting to keep your job at a time when others are losing it and having a chance to get promoted faster. If done well and ethically, quiet hiring can be a win-win situation.

How to Deal With Quiet Hiring as an Employee

Woman thoughtfully reading information on her computer screen

If you're an employee who has been subjected to quiet hiring, there are some ways you can make the best out of your situation. Granted, the ultimatum to work harder or leave is very distasteful, but you can use it to your advantage by following these tips.

1. Update Your Resume

If your company is transitioning into being more scrappy and resourceful, it gives you the perfect opportunity to climb up higher in the hierarchy faster than you otherwise would have. After all, the only reason you are still around and haven't been fired is that the company deems you more valuable than the employees who were asked to leave.

So, if you've been assigned new duties or promoted to a new position, don't let those credentials go to waste, but add them to your resume. That way, when it's time to look for a new job in the future, you can stand out in job interviews by talking about your promotion, the new skills you learned, the projects you handled, or the people you led.

2. Pick Up New Skills Online

Speaking of skills, now is a great time to learn new skills as well. Since your company is expecting higher productivity from its existing staff, you can use this time to level up your skillset and become more versatile.

You can either ask your HR to enroll you in the company's training program if there is one or use one of the many online learning platforms such as Skillshare, Udemy, or Coursera and ask the company to pay for the courses.

3. Negotiate a Pay Raise and Benefits

One Dollar Bill in Hand

Asking for a pay raise is scary for many people, especially at a time when the company is struggling financially. But if you're going to be taking on additional responsibilities and putting in more hours at your job, it's only fair to ask to be compensated for all that extra effort.

Besides, retaining a valuable employee is still much cheaper than hiring a new one. If the company can't afford to pay you more, you can negotiate other benefits such as flexible working hours, remote work, more paid leaves, and more. Remember, if you don't ask, the answer is always no.

4. Seek a New Job on LinkedIn

If your employer is not ready to negotiate a pay raise or benefits but is still expecting you to work longer hours and put in more effort, it might be time to search for a new job on LinkedIn.

5. Start a Remote Side Hustle

If your industry as a whole is struggling, and you can't seem to find any good job vacancies relevant to you, consider starting a side hustle to carve a path out of your current job.

Although, make sure you know the risks of freelancing and remote work before you begin. It's easy to get rosy ideas of what it'd be like to be your own boss, but the reality is often not as appealing as you might expect.

6. Use Meditation Apps to Counter Burnout

It's likely that all this extra work will cause you some anxiety and may even result in burnout. If that's so, consider using meditation apps to relax and gain focus. If meditation apps don't work for you, try signing up for an offline guided meditation and yoga class near you instead.

Quiet Hiring Is an Old Trick With a New Name

Quiet hiring is nothing new, and it's not something you need to lose sleep over. Employers have always expected their employees to do their best and be the most productive they can be—especially in times when doing so is the only option for the survival of the company.

That said, you shouldn't feel as though you have no choice but to obey your manager if you're asked to work far above your job description. Be ready to negotiate and ask for additional compensation or benefits, and if denied, consider the alternatives available to you.