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What Is Quiet Hiring?
Traditionally, companies hire new employees when specific skills are required to meet business goals. However, quiet hiring introduces a more agile alternative by utilizing existing staff or contractors to tackle these needs.
These individuals usually possess the skills necessary to perform the job duties, and will only temporarily become part of the team. This method benefits employers by filling a short-term need that does not warrant a new full-time employee.
Why Is It Happening?
Quiet hiring is taking off because businesses want to stay agile and quickly adapt to market changes.
Rather than undergoing the lengthy and expensive process of hiring new full-time employees, companies are reassigning existing employees to new roles, expanding their responsibilities, or bringing in contractors to fill skill gaps.
This approach enables businesses to respond promptly to new challenges, improve efficiency, and control costs while remaining competitive in a fast-paced market.
Key Drivers of Quiet Hiring Trends
The rise of quiet hiring trends in 2024 has been driven by several factors that are reshaping the workplace. As companies face budget constraints and talent shortages, many are opting to focus on internal mobility and upskilling their existing workforce rather than recruiting externally.
A study from Gigged.AI shows that 16% of tech leaders in the UK plan to use quiet hiring strategies in 2024, highlighting the growing emphasis on internal mobility, upskilling, and contingent hiring as key components of this trend.
As businesses face increasing talent shortages, quiet hiring is becoming more prominent. Predictive trends for 2025 suggest that more companies will lean into quiet hiring strategies to fill critical skill gaps, particularly as the demand for new talent continues to outpace supply.
How Is It Different From Quiet Quitting?
While quiet quitting involves employees doing the bare minimum, quiet hiring is the opposite—leveraging motivated workers or freelancers to exceed their traditional job duties and drive growth.
Gallup estimates that half of American workers fall into the category of quiet quitting, which typically results from significant dissatisfaction with one’s employer.
Quiet hiring likely arose from the increasing rates of quiet quitting among the workforce. To offset the effects of decreased effort, employers are giving opportunities to individuals motivated to work beyond the bare minimum, which offers benefits across the board.
How Quiet Hiring Benefits Employers
Advantages for employers who invest in quiet hiring include:
Reduced Recruiting Costs
Bringing new hires on board can be costly. From advertising and recruiting metrics to fees for training and assessments, hiring a new employee can substantially impact a business’s budget. With quiet hiring, these costs are vastly reduced by sourcing skilled workers internally or working with highly skilled contractors.
Smaller Learning Curves
Even the brightest, most motivated new hires will need time to acclimate to the working environment and their role. On the other hand, an existing staff member will face a much smaller learning curve, even when taking on duties outside their job description. The same could be said for most freelancers. Many can hit the ground running as a prerequisite.
Decreased Rates of Attrition
A comprehensive recruiting and hiring process still can’t safeguard employers against employee attrition, which adds time and money to the search for new candidates. By recruiting a current worker, you can avoid high attrition rates until you decide when to hire more employees.
How Quiet Hiring Benefits Employees
Along with the benefits offered to employers, there are advantages for employees.
Improved Skill Sets
Internal recruiting allows workers to acquire new skills and knowledge while maintaining gainful employment. These skills can help the individual advance their position and give them leverage for raises and promotions.
Protection Against Layoffs
Some employers use quiet hiring to avoid layoffs. Instead of terminating employees, they can relocate them to new positions to maintain their employment and fill gaps in the workplace.
Access to New Opportunities
If a staff member is feeling stagnant in their current position, new duties and responsibilities can help them grow and expand. And because the new position is available within their existing working environment, they aren’t faced with the stress and complexity of changing workplaces.
Is Quiet Hiring Legal?
While quiet hiring is acceptable from a legal perspective, the practice can raise some ethical concerns. Without the right approach, employers can be accused of exploiting their staff by adding new responsibilities without providing proper compensation.
It can also invite questions about workplace diversity. Sourcing talent from existing employees can deprive others of job opportunities, and this can be viewed as problematic when workplaces lack diverse staff.
Potential Downsides of Quiet Hiring (and Their Solutions)
It’s natural for employees to have questions about pay raises when they take on new responsibilities and tasks. Failure to address the subject can leave employers at a disadvantage, as they risk resenteeism from staff and potentially losing them to another business.
Employee Overload and Burnout
Giving workers new responsibilities may lead to employee burnout, reducing productivity and increasing workplace frustration. In this case, employers can delegate tasks to different staff members according to their skills. They can also consider hiring temporary staff to cover the gaps and avoid placing too much pressure on existing workers.
Freelancer Legal Complexities
Good communication can go a long way with quiet hiring initiatives. Employers can clearly and explicitly state plans for raises or promotions. Without these plans, workplaces should leave the door open for future discussions about pay. Remember, pay transparency can be an essential component of a thriving workplace.
Keep in mind that using contract workers can involve complications. For instance, employers will naturally have less control over freelance staff, which can make for some unpredictability. A comprehensive freelance contract that spells out specific terms regarding pay and deadlines ensures everyone is on the same page.
Wize Words
Employers willing to adapt to new trends have the greatest chance of success in the months and years to come. While quiet hiring has complexities, it can benefit workplaces and their staff when handled correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Quiet Hiring
What is quiet hiring?
Traditionally, companies hire new employees when specific skills are required to meet business goals. However, quiet hiring introduces a more agile alternative by utilizing existing staff or contractors to tackle these needs.
Is quiet hiring legal?
While quiet hiring is acceptable from a legal perspective, the practice can raise some ethical concerns. Without the right approach, employers can be accused of exploiting their staff by adding new responsibilities without providing proper compensation.
What is quiet firing?
When faced with an underperforming employee, employers sometimes intentionally create unfavorable conditions to pressure the person to resign. This is known as quiet firing and is regarded as a poor workplace tactic. Instead, management should consult with the worker to determine whether any underlying issues decrease motivation.
What should employers look for when working with freelancers?
In addition to having the desired skill set, freelance or contract workers will need recent references from previous clients. They should also have a portfolio of past work to illustrate their expertise in a given area. Regarding time-sensitive projects, the right candidate can complete tasks according to the deadlines. In a nutshell, you want a freelancer or contractor who can get up to speed quickly to drive business outcomes.
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