Employees are no longer staying up late to get a jump start on the following day or working on the weekends to get extra work done. Instead, many workers are choosing to "quietly quit", which is a new term that describes a worker's refusal to put in extra hours or effort beyond what is required of them in their job.

The pandemic and those seeking a better work/life balance are two factors that have contributed to this new mentality of "taking back" time and doing only what their job duties require of them, nothing more.

Despite the fact that quiet quitting may not be against an employer's policies, those who engage in it risk becoming a part of another recently developed phrase: quiet firing.

While we will explain this topic further, please give us a call today if you have questions about a potential wrongful termination case, workers’ compensation inquiry or anything related. The team at Brandon J. Broderick is here to help.

Quiet Firing Explained

When an employer quietly fires an employee, they usually do it because they are unhappy with the worker's performance at work or because the worker feels forced to quit. Although neither is the best choice, it shows that employers are aware of the emerging quiet quitting trend.

Quiet firing occurs when an employer merely adheres to the minimum to attempt to force an employee to leave. This usually entails lowering their hours or forcing them to perform unpleasant tasks until they finally quit.

Stats for Quiet Firing

Managers are taking action against quiet quitters, and here's some stats to prove it, according to ResumeBuilder.com.

• 91% of managers have rejected promotions for quiet quitters or simply fired them.
• 75% of managers believe it is acceptable to fire an employee for doing the bare minimum.
• 98% of managers expect employees to go above and beyond what is expected of them.

Signs You May Be Quiet Fired

There are several warning signals that an employee should watch out for if they think they will soon be fired:

• Your manager repeatedly cancels or reschedules an important meeting with you.
• Responsibilities or tasks usually assigned to you are delegated to coworkers.
• A performance improvement plan is being implemented for you.
• A sudden adjustment in your workload.

Is It Legal To Quiet Fire An Employee in New Jersey?

Even though being fired is unpleasant, it is absolutely legal if done properly. The same is true of quiet firing; if an employer has good reason to fire an employee, there are no legal repercussions.

However, without just cause, firing an employee is illegal. This includes retaliatory attacks after reporting discrimination or harassment. This is true, even if there may be other conditions related to the matter.

If you were wrongfully terminated, you should consult with the New Jersey employment law lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, to determine whether or not you have a case. We have the expertise required to ensure you are fairly compensated in the event you are wrongfully terminated.

Contact our New Jersey office to schedule a free consultation today.