“Job Hugging” and “Quiet Cracking”: The Work Trends in the Crisis

It wasn’t long ago that a feeling was circulating among German employees: the feeling that they suddenly had more power, could allow themselves more and demand more. They thought they could just leave if their boss didn’t respond to their wishes. Because there were enough jobs.

But the situation has changed. The economy is in crisis and unemployment is rising. Anyone who has a job wants to keep it. Also because it is particularly difficult to get out of unemployment.

While the trends of the past were “quiet quitting” (i.e. working to the rules) and four-day weeks, other work trends are now emerging: they are called “job hugging” and “quiet cracking”. What’s behind it?

“Job hugging” refers to the phenomenon in which employees cling to their job – even if they are unhappy with it. Of course, this could be due to a lack of options for switching. But it could also be related to the fact that switching to an unfamiliar job represents a greater risk than simply staying in your current, albeit unloved, job. “When the economic or political situation becomes more unstable, you hold on to old things because they are familiar. Even if what is familiar is bad,” explains Sabine Votteler, who, as a coach, advises people who want to reorient themselves professionally.

In fact, statistics show that fewer people are currently quitting their jobs. Only 38 percent of departures from companies in 2024 came from an employee quitting themselves, reports the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research (IAB). The number is still preliminary and therefore subject to a certain degree of uncertainty. Nevertheless, a trend can be seen: in 2019 it was still 47 percent.

The numbers had previously developed in opposite directions for many years. In 2004, the proportion of employee resignations was around 14 percent. Alexander Kubis, who is responsible for the job survey for the IAB, is not surprised that people tend to cling to their jobs: “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 strongly to the economic crisis – this was also reflected in the proportion of layoffs.

The problem: If people stay in a job that makes them unhappy for too long, the second trend can occur: “quiet cracking.” The dissatisfaction is slowly growing, but from the outside everything seems as if the employees are satisfied. They do their job, but internally disconnect from it.

This is particularly a problem among younger people, according to a survey by the EY auditing firm. While two years ago more than half of the younger respondents described themselves as happy with their work, in 2025 this was only a third.

Many people who only entered the job market in recent years experienced great demand – and with it more freedom to design their jobs themselves. This could be an explanation why the crisis is primarily affecting the satisfaction of younger employees.

But what is the right action when you notice that dissatisfaction is increasing?

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

One idea could be to reduce working hours and find another project to use in your free time. But sometimes it helps to start further training or to be involved in a project that seems useful to you.

But what you have to be clear about is that big jumps in salary are easier when changing jobs. “More salary in the same job is difficult. There is simply no reason for the employer to do that,” says Votteler.

And there are some warning signs that make you sit up and think about quitting. Votteler says: “When it comes to your health, you have to leave your job.” This can mean that you can no longer sleep or are permanently exhausted. “No job is always nice, but if it’s never nice, then it’s not the right one. If you just put up with it like that, then you’re kidding yourself.”

But how do you find a new job in such a situation? “The most important thing is to take care of your network,” advises Votteler. It’s best to start doing this before the change is due. “Especially when the job market is tight, you’re much more likely to get a new job through contacts.”

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