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

Not long ago, a feeling was circulating among German workers: the feeling that they suddenly had more power, that they could allow themselves more, and demand more. They thought they could simply leave if their boss didn't accommodate their wishes. Because there were enough jobs.

But the situation has changed. The economy is in crisis, unemployment rates are rising. Those who have a job want to keep it, especially because it's particularly difficult to get out of unemployment.

While the trends of the past were "quiet quitting" (working to the letter) and the four-day workweek, other work trends are now emerging: "job hugging" and "quiet cracking." What's behind them?

"Job hugging" refers to the phenomenon of employees clinging to their jobs – even when they're unhappy with them. This can, of course, be due in part to a lack of options for change. But it could also be related to the fact that switching to an unfamiliar job represents a greater risk than simply staying in the current, even if unloved, job. "When the economic or political situation becomes more unstable, people cling to old things because they're familiar. Even when the familiarity is bad," explains Sabine Votteler, a coach who advises people who want to reorient themselves professionally.

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In fact, statistics show that fewer people are currently quitting their jobs. Only 38 percent of company departures in 2024 were due to employees resigning themselves, reports the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). While this figure is still preliminary and subject to some uncertainty, it does reflect a trend: In 2019, the figure was 47 percent.

Previously, the numbers had trended 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 vacancy survey for the IAB, isn't surprised that people are more likely to cling to their jobs: "This is a trend we've also observed in other economic crises, such as the financial crisis." Back then, the labor market reacted much more strongly to the economic crisis—this was also reflected in the proportion of resignations.

The problem: If people stay in a job that makes them unhappy for too long, a second trend can occur: "quiet cracking." Dissatisfaction grows slowly, yet outwardly, everything appears as if the employees are satisfied. They do their job, but internally they become disconnected from it.

This is especially a problem among younger people, according to a survey conducted by the auditing firm EY. While two years ago, more than half of the younger respondents described themselves as happy with their jobs, by 2025, that number had fallen to just one-third.

Many people who only entered the job market in recent years experienced high demand—and thus more freedom to shape their jobs independently. This could explain why the crisis is particularly affecting the satisfaction of younger employees.

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

Sabine Votteler says that in such a situation, resignation isn't always the right solution—especially since it can actually be risky in an economically tense situation. "You can often change something within your existing job, or at least within your existing company, that can actually improve things." Those who approach their superiors with a concrete idea about how the situation could be improved are often listened to. She frequently experiences this with her clients.

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One idea might be to reduce your working hours and find another project to fill your free time with. But sometimes it can also help to start further training or get involved in a project that seems meaningful to you.

What you need to be clear about, though, is that large salary increases are easier when changing jobs. "It's difficult to pay more in the same job. There's simply no incentive for employers to do so," says Votteler.

And there are some warning signs that make you sit up and think about quitting. Votteler says: "If your health is at stake, you have to quit your job." That can mean you can't sleep or are constantly exhausted. "No job is always enjoyable, but if it's never enjoyable, then it's not the right one. If you just put up with it, you're just kidding yourself."

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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 before the change is imminent. "Especially when the job market is tight, you're much more likely to find a new job through contacts."

And when the economy picks up again? Then there will definitely be new work-related buzzwords.

This article is a reprint of Stern, which, like Capital, is owned by RTL Deutschland. It will be available here on Capital.de for ten days. Afterward, you can find it at www.stern.de.