Record high levels of negative emotions are typifying the average American worker’s day-to-day. That’s according to Gallup, which has been measuring U.S. employee life evaluation over a number of years.
In 2019, 60 percent of employees said they were thriving, but by 2024, that number had dropped to 50 percent.
Stress, worry, anger and sadness are fueling declining wellbeing and mental health at work, with younger workers particularly vulnerable.
5 jobs hiring in the U.S.
- Trial Attorney (Remote, Northern Virginia), Allstate, Virginia
- Director/ Senior Director of Strategic Pricing, Government Pricing, and GPO, AVEO Oncology, Boston
- Policy Director (0566C), California Policy Lab – 81495, InsideHigherEd, Berkeley
- Great Lakes Policy Fellow, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington
- Manager/Senior Manager, Government Affairs, The Rare Disease Company Coalition, Washington
Workplace stress is no joke. In fact, it has serious consequences, and is now the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., ahead of both Alzheimer’s and kidney disease, according to recent data.
It is also recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as burn-out, which the organization included as an occupational phenomenon in its 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” the WHO”s report stated.
Characterized by three dimensions, you’ll know you’re burnt out at work if you’re suffering from feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion. An increased mental distance from your job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to your role is the second signifier. Thirdly, reduced professional efficacy is another symptom of burnout.
Separate data from the WHO has identified that long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016. That was a 29 percent increase from 2000.
With workplace stress and burnout at such high levels, new trends are emerging as workers struggle to cope.
We’ve already seen the rise of phenomena such as quiet quitting, where workers do the bare minimum in order to get by. Loud quitting is the opposite: it’s where workers let their pent-up feelings be known as they exit the building.
Coffee badging is another trend that’s rooted in employee dissatisfaction. It’s characterized by workers tapping into the office, being visible for a bit, and then heading back home to get their actual work done.
Resenteeism is also on the rise, where workers feel stuck. Whether due to the current slow labor market or the cost of living, more employees are having to stay put, and is leading to feelings of bitterness.
Quiet cracking on the rise
Newly emerging is the rise of quiet cracking. “Quiet cracking refers to persistent feelings of unhappiness at work, which may lead to disengagement, declining performance, and a desire to quit,” says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
A recent survey from TalentLMS identified that 54 percent of workers say they’re experiencing it. The study surveyed 1,000 U.S. employees across industries, and 20 percent say they experience workplace unhappiness frequently or constantly, with 34 percent experiencing it occasionally.
Another 17 percent of employees feel insecure about their jobs when tied to their company’s future, with employees with no training 140 percent more likely to feel insecure about their jobs. Additionally, 29 percent of employees say their workload is unmanageable, and 15 percent don’t clearly understand their role expectations.
Another 21 percent of employees say they don’t feel valued and recognized for their contributions at work.
The result of this seems inevitable. “Disengagement is taking root in the workforce,” confirm the study’s authors, noting that while this is less visible than the mass resignations we saw during the COVID-19 era, it is no less damaging.
“Quiet cracking isn’t just a well-being issue—it’s a business issue. When employees quietly crack, they take productivity, creativity, and loyalty with them.”
Other recent research from Upwork offers more insight into the sort of workers who are suffering from quiet craving the most. It has found that the issue is most prevalent among workers who use AI to boost their productivity.
It found that while 77 percent of executives say AI is helping them with productivity, 88 percent of top AI performers say they’re burned out and twice as likely to consider quitting.
The TalentLMS study points to a few things that can actively help workers who are under threat of quiet cracking. Structured, ongoing learning paths where workers are allowed to choose some of their learning content along with dedicated time for learning, are vital.
The proof is in the pudding: the study identified that employees who received training in the last 12 months are 140 percent more likely to feel secure in their jobs.
