Home / Business and Economy / Invisible Exits: The New Way Employees Quit
Invisible Exits: The New Way Employees Quit
8 Jan
Summary
- Quiet firing lacks official sanction, making it hard to challenge.
- No real legal protection exists for white-collar workers in India.
- This practice erodes psychological safety and organizational culture.
A new trend of 'quiet firing' is emerging in Indian workplaces, where employees are pushed out without a formal termination, leaving them in professional limbo. This subtle, informal method, lacking official sanction, is difficult to challenge legally, as current safeguards primarily cover blue-collar employment. Experts like Ankur Agrawal highlight that proving coercion requires extensive documentation, which is often unattainable.
The human cost of quiet firing is significant, proving more psychologically damaging than formal layoffs due to its ambiguity. It breeds self-doubt, erodes confidence, and can lead to stress and depression. Professionally, it halts career growth and stagnates professional networks, with damage escalating over time.
HR leaders emphasize that transparent exits, even difficult ones, are healthier for organizational culture and psychological safety. Younger professionals, attuned to leadership behavior, expect transparency, making practices like quiet firing misaligned with modern workplace values. This trend highlights a growing tension between managerial convenience and organizational credibility.
