Throughout the past five years, there’s been an influx of new descriptors around employees’ attitudes and actions related to work. Starting with “the Great Resignation”—a phrase coined by a Texas A&M professor in 2021 referencing the large exodus of employees post-pandemic— new terms have been steadily appearing in the news cycle and social media.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the phrases we’ve been hearing more recently, and the trends they describe.
Overall Workforce Trends
There have been several labels put on the current state of the labor market. Many studies have shown low employee engagement rates and job satisfaction, often stemming from poor communication and direction from organizational leadership, a lack of clear purpose, and frustration with return-to-work policies.
The Great Gloom: the overall drop in workplace satisfaction and employee engagement that has persisted since 2020
The Great Detachment: a cooling job market, combined with frustration toward current employers, leading employees to feel mentally and emotionally disconnected from their work, colleagues and organizations
The Big Stay: the shift following “the Great Resignation” where employees are choosing to remain in their roles for longer periods of time
Individual Attitudes and Actions
Even when employees are disengaged, many remain in their roles due to economic pressures, limited job options or other personal constraints. These circumstances have given rise to new behaviors and approaches that reflect how professionals are managing work, stress and boundaries in today’s labor market.
Quiet Quitting: mentally checking out of a job and performing the minimum requirements to reduce stress and avoid burnout, rather than physically resigning
Resenteeism: the evolution of “quiet quitting,” where employees remain in their jobs begrudgingly due to feeling trapped by financial obligations, market conditions or other circumstances
Career Cushioning: also stemming from “quiet quitting,” where employees build new skills to prepare for a potential job change amid economic uncertainty
Quiet Vacationing: secretly taking time off to travel, while appearing to be online and “working” remotely
E-presenteeism: the pressure to be constantly available, even outside of official working hours, driven by messaging platforms and the blurred lines of remote work
Coffee Badging: a response to return-to-work mandates; briefly appearing in the physical office just long enough to be seen (often while grabbing coffee), before heading back to remote work
Hiring and Interview Trends
Today’s job market has also prompted new behaviors around hiring and job searching. Many professionals are prioritizing their work-life balance and personal commitments. Additionally, fewer in-person interviews can make the job search seem more transactional. Focusing on a positive candidate experience and setting clear and consistent expectations for a role is essential for hiring and engaging the right talent.
Quiet Hiring: companies filling talent gaps by expanding existing employees’ responsibilities rather than hiring new staff
Rage Applying: candidates applying to numerous jobs impulsively and without intention, often after a frustrating workplace experience
Ghosting: candidates or employers suddenly ceasing all communication without explanation
Quick Quitting: the pattern of employees quitting positions they’ve just started or held for under one year as they continue searching for “better” 
opportunities
While some of these buzzwords are catchy, it’s important to recognize the shifts they represent in employee expectations and behaviors. By understanding these trends, leaders can identify potential issues early, support their teams more effectively and create more engaging work environments.