"I've come to believe it's both. Buzzwords risk trivializing serious issues when leaders don't look past labels and address what's underneath. But they can spark helpful conversations about how employees are really doing. They can normalize experiences people might otherwise struggle to name, and when they spread, they show people they're not alone. The words themselves may not last long (goodbye, "quiet quitting"; hello, "quiet cracking"), but the feelings behind them are real. Workplace buzzwords are red flags business leaders miss at their own peril."
"It refers to employees clinging to their jobs, often from fear of layoffs or lack of hiring at other companies. In today's stagnant labor market, that fear is not entirely wrong: Layoffs are down, but hiring isn't strong, either. For 15 years, the Aflac WorkForces Report has been tracking employee well-being, benefits and workplace sentiment across the U.S. workforce. This year's survey backs up the job-hugging trend: Only 28% of employees are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months."
Workplace terminology is evolving rapidly, producing buzzwords like job hugging, quiet cracking, and rage applying that reflect real employee experiences. Buzzwords can trivialize serious problems when leaders stop at labels, but they can also spark conversations, normalize struggles, and reveal widespread issues. Many employees are staying in roles out of fear rather than motivation, with only 28% likely to seek a new job in the next 12 months. Burnout is at a seven-year high, with 61% reporting at least moderate burnout. Anxiety about AI-driven cuts and weak hiring further drives retention born of caution rather than engagement.
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