"In traditional offices, tension used to be easy to spot. Disagreements happened in meeting rooms, frustrations spilled into corridor conversations, and disengaged employees could be seen withdrawing in real time. Hybrid work has changed that dynamic. Discontent has not disappeared; it has gone underground. Today, many firmss are grappling with a quieter form of conflict: silent resentment. Employees who feel overlooked or disillusioned rarely confront managers or colleagues. They disengage quietly, fulfilling only the bare requirements of their roles while concealing their discontent behind screens."
"Hybrid structures make this easier. Reduced face-to-face interaction removes the social friction that once forced conflicts into the open. Video calls mask subtle cues like body language and tone. Managers who used to sense tension through everyday observation now see only curated slices of behaviour. The result is a workplace where conflict is less visible but more corrosive. Because it stays hidden, it lingers longer. Leaders often discover the problem only after performance drops, turnover spikes, or once-committed employees suddenly resign."
Hybrid work has transformed overt workplace tension into quieter, hidden resentment that often manifests as disengagement rather than confrontation. Reduced face-to-face interaction and masked cues on video calls make it easier for employees to conceal dissatisfaction behind screens. Managers lose everyday observational signals and often see only curated behaviour. Hidden resentment lingers, becoming corrosive and frequently revealed only after performance declines, turnover rises, or sudden resignations occur. Silence often reflects perceived power dynamics and fear of speaking up. Regular one-to-one conversations focused on experience rather than output can surface early signals and reduce silent disengagement.
Read at Forbes
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