{{short description|none}} {{use American English|date=October 2024}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} '''Quiet cutting''' is a strategy from employers where employees are reassigned to a different role rather than being laid off.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Ray A. |date=2023-08-28 |title=You've Heard of Quiet Quitting. Now Companies Are Quiet Cutting. |url=https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/youve-heard-of-quiet-quitting-now-companies-are-quiet-cutting-ba2c326d |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=WSJ}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thapa |first=Anuz |date=2023-10-13 |title=Quiet cutting: How power in U.S. offices may be shifting back to bosses |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/quiet-cutting-power-balance-in-offices-may-be-shifting-back-to-bosses.html |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> The term arose in 2023 to describe a phenomenon seen in the American labor market.<ref name=":0" /> Although the nation had a strong job market during this time, quiet cutting was being adopted by companies due to economic worries of the future.<ref name=":0" /> Companies were observed to use this approach to fulfill crucial roles while simultaneously reducing costs.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> According to the financial research platform AlphaSense, conversations about reassignments during corporate earnings calls more than tripled between August 2022 and August 2023.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /><ref name="Navarra Navarra 2023 a753" /> Although the term "quiet quitting" was invented in 2023, the strategy had been seen before.<ref name="Navarra Navarra 2023 a753" />
The term "quiet cutting" alludes to the term "quiet quitting" that was observed in the few years prior where employees would do minimal effort to meet expectations.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> Where quiet quitting reflected that the balance of workplace power was more favorable for employees, the rise in quiet cutting suggests that the balance may be shifting in favor of employers.<ref name=":0" /> The Great Resignation showed a strong demand for workers, job openings and wage growth decreased in 2023.<ref name="Mensik Mensik 2023 s459">{{cite web |last=Mensik |first=Hailey |date=2023-09-08 |title=WTF is quiet cutting? |url=https://www.worklife.news/talent/wtf-is-quiet-cutting-reassignments/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=WorkLife}}</ref> Quiet quitting can be considered a subset of "quiet firing".<ref name=":0" />
Employees may experience a range of emotions, from relief at retaining their jobs to fear of the uncertainty of their career paths following reassignments.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> It may potentially have a negative impact on morale and employee retention.<ref name="Navarra Navarra 2023 a753">{{cite web |last=Navarra |first=Katie |date=2023-09-12 |title=Beware the Silence: 'Quiet Cutting' Is Not the Best HR Strategy |url=https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/beware-the-silence-quiet-cutting-is-not-the-best-hr-strategy.aspx |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=SHRM}}</ref><ref name="Mearian 2023 l678">{{cite web |last=Mearian |first=Lucas |date=2023-09-19 |title=Experts: 'Quiet cutting' employees makes no sense, and it's costly |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3706870/quiet-cutting-employees-makes-no-sense-and-its-costly.html |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Computerworld}}</ref> The practice of reassignment often involves a waiting game, subtly encouraging employees to voluntarily leave to avoid costly severance packages.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /><ref name=":0" /> Workers may sometimes be deliberately placed in ill-fitting roles, prompting them to resign.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> The roles may be less prestigious, lower paying, and more demanding.<ref name="Cerullo 2023 k435" /> Indicators such as reduced pay or unwanted relocation may suggest such underlying motives.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> Experts recommend that employees seek clarity from management regarding the specifics behind their reassignments to gain a better understanding of their career trajectory.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> Transparency on the part of the employer is a key factor in maintaining a respectable relationship with employees.<ref name="Navarra Navarra 2023 a753" /><ref name="Mensik Mensik 2023 s459" /> In situations involving reassignment, legal options for employees are limited, except in cases of retaliatory or discriminatory treatment.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /> It may be more practical and effective for the employer to directly terminate the employee rather than engaging in quiet cutting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Suzanne |date=2023-08-16 |title=What 'Quiet Cutting' Really Is and What It Looks Like Behind the Scenes |url=https://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/what-quiet-cutting-really-is-and-what-it-looks-like-behind-the-scenes.html |access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref>
Between 2022 and 2023, large corporations like Adidas, Adobe, IBM and Salesforce have restructured their workforce.<ref name="Smith 2023 y779" /><ref name="Cerullo 2023 k435">{{cite web |last=Cerullo |first=Megan |date=2023-08-29 |title=Companies are now "quiet cutting" workers. Here's what that means. |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/companies-are-now-quiet-cutting-employees/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=CBS News}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Labor disputes