In recent years, a new term has emerged in the workplace vocabulary: silent quitting. It's a warning sign of a malaise that's very present in many workplaces. In the face of this growing disengagement, recognition is emerging as a simple, yet powerful, solution to re-engage employees and maintain their motivation.
In this article, we'll explore what silent resignation is, how to recognize it, and how workplace recognition can help address it.
What is silent resignation?
Quiet resignation isn't actually quitting a job, but rather mentally withdrawing from it. The employee continues to perform their daily tasks, but limits themselves to the bare minimum required. They no longer offer extra effort and avoid engaging beyond their job description. In short, they disconnect, without leaving completely.
How to recognize an employee who is disengaged?
Silent resignation manifests itself through a series of often subtle signs. Here are some behaviors that may indicate disengagement on the part of an employee:
- He delivers the bare minimum required, without enthusiasm;
- He does not take initiatives;
- He refuses to work overtime or attend non-mandatory meetings;
- He stops offering help to his colleagues;
- He deliberately slows down his work pace;
- He avoids taking on new responsibilities or projects outside his job description;
- Its productivity is declining;
- He makes more mistakes than before;
- His participation in team activities decreases, as does his communication;
- His absences become more frequent, sometimes without clear justification.
These signs, taken individually, may seem trivial. But taken together, they often reveal a profound disengagement, a way of staying in a position without fully committing to it.
What causes silent resignation?
There are several reasons why an employee might disengage in this way, for example:
- Unrealistic expectations from the employer;
- Poorly managed stress;
- The desire to preserve one's mental health in the event of exhaustion or overload;
- A difficult period in personal life (illness of a loved one, separation, bereavement, etc.);
- A lack of recognition at work;
- A feeling of uselessness or boredom;
- Economic instability, both personal and general;
- Lack of opportunities for advancement or learning;
- A toxic work environment;
- The desire to achieve a better work-life balance.
The employee remains on the job, but their heart is no longer in it. This type of disengagement may be silent, but its repercussions are very real, both for team performance and job satisfaction, as well as for the overall health of the company.
Recognition at work: a powerful lever for motivation
Workplace recognition plays a key role in preventing silent resignation. As neuroscientist Sonia Lupien explains in her book, , this phenomenon often stems from a feeling of underappreciation and a sense of stagnation in one's professional development. When an employee feels seen, heard, and valued, their engagement naturally increases.
Recognizing an employee can be as simple as highlighting a contribution in a meeting, expressing genuine gratitude, or celebrating an achievement with the team. The key is for the individual to feel that their work has an impact and that they are making a real difference in the company.
Create a culture of recognition
For recognition to have a lasting impact, it must be part of the organizational culture. This includes training managers to recognize efforts, not just results, valuing behaviors aligned with company values, and encouraging employees to praise each other.
Providing development opportunities, highlighting each person's unique strengths, and giving responsibilities aligned with aspirations are also gestures that show talent that we believe in them.
Recognition also fosters trust. An employee who feels supported by their manager, that they can express their ideas without fear, and that their well-being is a priority will be more inclined to invest in their work. This mutual trust becomes the basis for a sincere and lasting commitment.
Prevention is better than cure
Silent resignation is often a symptom of a deeper problem: a lack of recognition and trust that plagues the company. Focusing on consistent and authentic recognition at work helps build a culture where every employee feels valued. And it's precisely in this type of environment that talented people want to stay and thrive.
Pascale Hubert
Web Writer