Job Hugging Is the New Quiet Quitting (But Way Worse)
- ashey9111
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
I heard there's a new trend in town - job hugging. WTF is job hugging, you ask? Well, let's explore that together. Enjoy!
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Job Hugging is the New Quiet Quitting (But Way Worse)
I think the state of our current political climate - especially in America right now may have a lot to do with this new trend of "job hugging". According to the Internet, job hugging is a new trend where workers are holding on to their jobs for dear life right now. Workers are doing this because they want to have job security, may be worried about losing their job, and there is a strong fear that if they do leave their current job, they may not find new employment. Whereas, in the past, looking for new opportunities has been higher.
A report from the consultancy firm "Korn Ferry" has coined the term "job hugging," which, as I said above, is basically holding on to your current job like you have everything to lose. Workers are doing this because it's better than the alternative in their eyes, which is "staring into the void of unemployment for weeks, or maybe more realistically at this rate, months."
So why is this happening? Let's break it down into bullet points:
The economy is f*cked
There is little to no job growth
AI is taking over certain roles
It's a survival instinct
Workers are getting laid off, which makes the employment market murky, and workers may not feel safe
Uncertainty in the employment sector means workers are more likely to become "comfortable" in their current job and stay for longer than they would normally, or less likely to look for growth
Uncertainty can also lead to anxiety and fear, and may put people into "freeze" mode
Political landscapes
So what's the difference between job hugging and quiet quitting? Well, quiet quitting is when you do everything you need to at your work, but you put in minimal effort, i.e., you still get all your work done, but you're not going above and beyond. When people start quiet quitting, it can signal a few things in the workplace: a need for change, issues with management, opportunities for growth, and boundary-setting (avoiding burnout). In comparison, job hugging can be considered bad because of the following reasons:
Employee Stagnation - i.e., a person may not learn new skills to develop further
A False Sense of Security - When someone believes that staying put in their current role gives them job stability, but in reality, it's not always black and white like that, as job security doesn't reflect satisfaction or engagement
The Labour Market - If people are not seeking new growth opportunities, it can make it harder for "entry-level" people to find work
Low Engagement - Employers may believe their employees are super hard working and happy in their job, but they're just stuck
What are some ways we can see job hugging? Robinson (2025) from Forbes suggests:
Increased stress and irritability, which impacts the mood of the team
Performance changes like a person focusing on areas they are good at to show their capabilities, vs critical areas they should be focusing on to help others
Workers are super eager to assist other roles
Workers are outgrowing their current roles but staying there due to market fear
Forbes (2025) suggests that the best way to address this job hugging trend is to focus on areas of mentorship, growth, and development.
Thank you for reading!
Ash x
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With the way you describe it here, I think this has been happening for a while now! I think I've even thought about it before (I have definitely done quiet quitting lol). We burn ourselves out too easily and it allows employers to take advantage all to save a buck in the end. Its sad but true. This post is definitely on point!