In a recent Fast Company feature, UCL School of Management’s Anthony Klotz, renowned for coining the term “Great Resignation”, shared his perspective on a growing workplace trend: “job hugging”.
As economic uncertainty, hiring freezes and slowdowns persist, many employees are clinging to their current roles, even when those jobs feel unfulfilling. Dr Klotz warns that this behaviour, often driven by fear of redundancy or limited opportunities, can lead to serious consequences.
“If I was scared of losing my job I’d try everything to keep it: complimenting my boss, staying late, going to optional meetings, being a good organisational citizen,” he explains.
But this overcompensation, he notes, is “a one-way trip to burnout.” When employees go above and beyond in roles they don’t enjoy, the psychological effects can be severe, impacting well-being and performance.
The Fast Company article highlights that job hugging isn’t just about keeping your job, it’s about anxiously clinging to stability during unfavourable labour markets. Dr Klotz emphasizes that while resilience and reframing can help, prolonged disengagement often spirals into exhaustion and cynicism, ultimately hurting career growth.
As organisations navigate this trend, Dr Klotz’s insights underscore the importance of fostering open dialogue and supporting employees in finding meaning at work, even when external conditions make change difficult.
