“Job Hugging” and “Quiet Cracking” are the work trends of the crisis

It wasn’t long ago that a feeling was changed among German workers: the feeling that they suddenly have more power, can afford more and demand more. You thought you could just go if your boss does not respond to your wishes. Because there were enough jobs.

But the situation turned. The economy crises, unemployment rises. If you have a job, you want to keep it. Also because it is particularly difficult to find out of unemployment.

If the trends of the past were “quiet quitting” (i.e. service according to the regulations) and four-day week, other work trends are now coming up: “Job Hugging” and “Quiet Cracking” are called. What is behind it?

“Job Hugging” describes the phenomenon that workers cling to their job – even if they are unhappy with it. On the one hand, this can of course be due to the lack of options for changing. But it could also be related to the fact that a change to an unknown job is a greater risk than simply in the current, albeit unpopular, job. “If the economic situation or the political situation becomes more unstable, you stick to old things because they are familiar. Even if the familiar is bad,” explains Sabine Votteler, who advises people who want to reorient themselves professionally.

In fact, the statistics show that fewer people are currently terminating their job. Only 38 percent of the departures from companies came in 2024 that an employee himself terminated, reports the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). The number is still temporary, i.e. with certain uncertainty. Nevertheless, this shows a trend: in 2019 it was 47 percent.

The numbers had previously developed many years. In 2004 the proportion of employee announcements was about 14 percent. Alexander Kubis, who is responsible for the job survey for the IAB, is not surprised that people are more likely to cling to their job: “This is a development that we also observe in other economic crises, for example in the financial crisis.” At that time, the labor market reacted much more to the economic crisis – this was also evident in the proportion of dismissals.

The problem: If people stay in a job that makes them unhappy, the second trend can occur: the “Quiet Cracking”. The dissatisfaction is slowly growing, and everything looks like the employees are satisfied on the outside. They do their job, but they pair themselves from him.

This is a problem, especially among younger people, shows a survey of the Ey auditing. While two years ago more than half of the younger respondents described themselves happily with their work, it was only a third in 2025.

Many people who have only come to the labor market in recent years experienced great demand – and thus more freedom for self -determined design of their job. This could be an explanation of why the crisis affects the satisfaction of younger employees.

But what is the right measure if you realize that dissatisfaction is increasing?

Sabine Votteler says that in such a situation, termination is not always the right solution – especially since the situation in an economically tense situation can actually be risky. “You can often change something within the existing job or at least within the existing company, which is enough for better.” Anyone who goes to the superiors with a concrete idea of ​​how the situation could improve is often heard. You often experience this with your customers.

An idea can be to reduce working hours and look for another project for leisure. But sometimes it helps to start further training or to be involved in a project that makes sense.

But what needs to be clear: large salary jumps are easier when changing jobs. “More salary in the same job is difficult. There is simply no reason for the employer,” says Votteler.

And there are some warning signals in which you should listen to and think about a termination. Votteler says: “When it comes to health, you have to separate from the job.” This can mean that you can no longer sleep or are permanently exhausted. “No job is always nice, but if it is never beautiful, then it is not the right one. If you can just stand it, then you kid yourself.”

Only: How do you find a new job in such a situation? “The most important thing is that you take care of your network,” advises Votteler. It is best to start with it before the change is due. “Especially when the job market is tense, you get a new job more through contacts.”

And when the economy gets going again? Then there will definitely be new work trend terms.