Quiet hiring

In human resources, quiet hiring refers to the practice of having an employee takes on a new responsibilities or a role within their company due to need. The role may be temporary or permanent, and the reassignment may not align with employee interests. Quiet hiring often occurs during economic slowdowns as a cost-saving measure.

Quiet hiring may negatively impact employee engagement with reassigned employees quiet quitting or mentally checking out. Quiet hiring may promote the utilization of nontraditional labor pools and allow workers to gain new skills and try out new roles for career development. Quiet hiring encourages the promotion of internal employees over external hiring.

The term arose following the COVID-19 pandemic Great Resignation in response to quiet quitting and quiet firing, though the practice was previously in place.