Markets
Job-Hugging Instead of Job-Hopping – Why Many Dissatisfied Employees No Longer Quit
The uncertainty in the job market is growing, along with a silent phenomenon: more and more people are staying in jobs that make them unhappy, for fear of not finding something better.
What used to be "job-hopping" is often the opposite today: "job-hugging" - holding on to a position that neither satisfies nor offers prospects. Employees smile outwardly, perform solid work, but inwardly many have long given up. "Many people maintain the appearance of engagement - not because they are enthusiastic, but because they desire security," says coach and business psychologist Saskia Bülow.
The economic situation reinforces this trend: Job cuts at Bosch, Lufthansa, and VW, rising rents and fewer job openings make many prefer to stay where they are. An analysis by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) shows: Since the pandemic, the willingness to switch has significantly decreased. One in five employees does not want to quit despite dissatisfaction – particularly often young workers of Generation Z.
But loyalty is not always a good sign. "A team full of huggers dangerously tips towards stagnation," warns Hans Rusinek, a labor researcher at the University of St. Gallen. Behind the facade lurk exhaustion, lack of innovation - and for many, what experts call "quiet cracking": the slow breaking under one's own dissatisfaction.
The consequences are measurable: According to the AOK absenteeism report, job frustration and chronic stress lead to sleep problems, headaches, and depression. Staying too long risks professional stagnation and missing opportunities for advancement. Career advisors recommend considering a change after five years at the latest.
Executives face the task of identifying and winning back job hoppers in a timely manner. Signals include withdrawal, lack of initiative, or increasing stress. "Open discussions, new perspectives, and the opportunity to take on responsibility are needed," says Bülow. Further training, flexible working hours, and new projects can also help break the stagnation—and rekindle the passion for the job.
