Quiet Hiring Is on the Rise—What Employers Need to Know

To start the year, companies are after new ways to handle turnover, fill roles, and acquire skills. Quiet hiring might just be the answer. More and more businesses are turning to this strategy, but what exactly is it? And how can it solve these major challenges for organizations?

Read on to learn about quiet hiring, why it is such an important strategy, and how you can take advantage of the benefits. 

What Is Quiet Hiring?

In short, quiet hiring occurs when organizations fill a position or need without hiring employees. 

When organizations need to fill a role but lack the resources to hire a new employee, they may turn to contractors or current employees to take on a new project. This is an example of quiet hiring. 

This method revolves around filling an immediate need without the burden of bringing on new faces. It is a solution that can provide short-term relief for organizations. It may prove to be a more challenging strategy for long-term use as, over time, work may grow too significant a burden on one employee. This does not mean, however, that quiet hiring cannot continue to be helpful down the road. It just needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. 

It is increasingly common for organizations to turn to quiet hiring in response to economic factors such as looming fears of a recession. With the economic uncertainty heading into 2023, this strategy will likely continue to spike.

Is Quiet Hiring Related to Quiet Quitting?

Quiet Quitting refers to an employee actively meeting their position's minimum requirements. In contrast to traditional working habits, which include exceeding expectations at work to climb the corporate ladder of success, the actions of “quiet quitters” reflect a shift toward prioritizing personal preservation and well-being over long-term career growth.

Are quiet hiring and quiet quitting related? Yes—in that they are total opposites. Quiet hiring relies on an employee taking on extra and, perhaps, in some instances, excessive responsibilities to fill gaps in the workflow. 

Because it is a way for employees to do the least amount of work necessary, quiet quitting will be at odds with quiet hiring. Organizations will need to find ways to identify these cases before initiating such inverse hiring strategies, or they may find that their plans to save time, money, and energy, have backfired on them. 

How Can You Prepare for Quiet Hiring?

The key to preparing for quiet hiring is to form a strategy centered on employees. Establish why it is a strategy that should motivate them. Then, provide them with the necessary tools to excel in that new role. 

With the possibility of a recession and general fears of economic volatility, many businesses could face struggles in 2023. Some may find they will only overcome the challenging environment with strategies like quiet hiring. 

Some employers may need help convincing employees to take on new roles and responsibilities. One employee can be enough of a challenge, but some businesses may see the need to move many employees into new positions. To combat this difficulty, employers must develop strategies to convey the benefits of new roles effectively. When employees are granted new opportunities, they are also given a chance to acquire new skills, certifications, and training. 

Find ways to express to your employees the value of taking on new roles. New training and skills can improve career growth and encourage employees to work toward more significant achievements and goals. 

How Can Your Organization Benefit From Quiet Hiring? 

Hiring top talent in a seller's market while you struggle to stay afloat can be challenging. So, what do you do? You need the workers to stay afloat but need help finding the resources. This is the perfect opportunity to initiate a quiet hiring strategy. It may seem like a last-ditch effort, but it's far from it. 

Quiet Hiring can save your organization time, money, and resources during economic uncertainty, and as such, the strategy should be well-thought-out and extensive in scope. You should carefully develop this strategy by identifying potential among your current pool, determining the best way to connect to those employees, and effectively explaining your plans for them. 

Employees can often take on new roles and responsibilities; some may even be excited about it.

Have a plan for each employee, determine the best possible opportunities, and recognize the most critical positions for organizational success. 

If you follow through on the correct tactics, you will likely see a boost in retention. This means you can fill roles and handle projects without strenuous hiring challenges. If you struggle to find the resources you need to fill a position, then a quiet hiring strategy may be an excellent solution for you and your organization. 

Additional Resources

You can also stay informed, educated, and up-to-date with quiet hiring and other important topics by using BerniePortal’s comprehensive resources:

• BernieU—free online HR courses, approved for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit

• BerniePortal Blog—a one-stop-shop for HR industry news

• HR Glossary—featuring the most common HR terms, acronyms, and compliance

• HR Guides—essential pillars covering an extensive list of comprehensive HR topics

• HR Party of One—our popular YouTube series and podcast, covering emerging HR trends and enduring HR topics