Latest news with #MartinPoduška
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Quiet cracking' is spreading in offices: Half of workers are at breaking point, and it's costing companies $438 billion in productivity loss
'Quiet cracking' is the new workplace phenomenon sweeping offices. As AI looms over jobs and promotions stall, workers' mental health is quietly fraying. For employers, it has resulted in a staggering $438 billion loss in global productivity in the past year alone. But not all hope is lost. A career expert tells Fortune there are ways for managers and employees to course-correct. Workers are down in the dumps about a lack of career growth opportunities and emptying offices as companies slash staffers to make way for AI, all while being put under constant pressure to do more with less. Scared of speaking out and putting their neck on the line in a dire job climate, staff are silently but massively disengaging with their employers: Welcome to 'quiet cracking.' The latest workplace phenomenon sees staff showing up and doing their job but mentally and emotionally struggling. About 54% of employees report feeling unhappy at work, with the frequency ranging from occasionally to constantly, according to a 2025 report from TalentLMS. 'The telltale signs of quiet cracking are very similar to burnout. You may notice yourself lacking motivation and enthusiasm for your work, and you may be feeling useless, or even angry and irritable,' Martin Poduška, editor in chief and career writer for Kickresume, tells Fortune. 'These are all common indicators of quiet cracking, and they gradually get worse over time.' Unlike 'quiet quitting,' this decline in productivity from workers isn't intentional. Instead, it's caused by feeling worn down and unappreciated by their employers. And oftentimes, as with burnout, they don't even register it creeping up on them until it's too late. But feeling unable to quit in protest because of the current job market, it's left them ultimately stuck and unhappy in their roles. Unfortunately, managers are slow to catch on A fleet of unhappy workers may sound easy to spot, but the problem is sneaking up on workplaces without much course correction. Last year, the proportion of engaged employees globally dropped from 23% to 21%—a similar dip in enthusiasm seen during the COVID-19 lockdown—costing the world economy about $438 billion in lost productivity, according to a 2025 report from Gallup. Quiet cracking isn't only creating a bad culture for employees to work in, but the trend is also hitting businesses hard. It's imperative that bosses seize the moment to develop an engagement strategy before the problem festers into a ticking time bomb. And employees can also make adjustments to better advocate for their own career happiness. 'It isn't obvious when quiet cracking happens,' Poduška explains. 'You may be starting to quietly crack right now, but you wouldn't know as this type of burnout takes some time for others, and even you, to notice.' How employers can fight 'quiet cracking' before it's too late The current state of the workplace may sound bleak, but not all hope is lost. A career expert tells Fortune there are ways to spot fissures in company culture before employees are fully down in the dumps, and managers need to stand on guard. 'If you've noticed an employee becoming more and more disengaged with their work, it may be best to schedule a time where you can discuss how they feel,' Poduška says. 'Setting them new tasks, providing new learning opportunities, and simply having an honest conversation could steer things back in the right direction.' A good boss can make or break company culture. Among employees who experience quiet cracking, 47% say their managers do not listen to their concerns, according to the TalentLMS study. But by simply sparking a conversation on the issue, supervisors can get staffers back on track to be happy at work. Alongside having an honest conversation, managers should also show interest in the development of their direct reports. Training workers can help show that the company is interested in their career advancement; about 62% of staffers who aren't quiet cracking receive training, compared to 44% of those who frequently or constantly experience the feeling. 'When employee training is prioritized, it signals care, investment, and belief in people's potential,' the TalentLMS report notes. 'It fuels motivation, builds capability, and creates a culture where people want to contribute—and stay. Training isn't just about skill-building; it's an antidote to disengagement. A catalyst for connection.' How workers can combat their own disengagement Managers aren't the only ones with power in fighting workplace disengagement; employees also have the power to combat their own unhappiness. 'How can quiet cracking be avoided? For staff, finding out the root cause of your unhappiness might be the key to stop quiet cracking in its tracks,' Poduška explains. 'If you feel like there are no opportunities for progression with your role, you may find it worthwhile to talk to your manager about a development plan. This can give you something to work toward, which may help combat boredom and spark your motivation.' However, not every company is going to be invested in developing their workers, even if they voice the need for it. In that case, Poduška advises that staffers take a hard look at the business they work for. He recommends that employees question if their jobs feel sustainable and if they feel adequately supported by their teams. If not, a new employer—or even career—could be the answer. 'Another way to stop quiet cracking is to change things up. You could ask yourself if the role you're currently in is right for you,' Poduška says. 'A total career pivot may be the answer to quiet cracking in some cases, or for others, a switch into another department might be the best solution. Some, however, may just need something new and fresh to work on.' This story was originally featured on Solve the daily Crossword
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Move over quiet quitting — as AI looms ‘quiet cracking' is costing $438 billion and wrecking workers' health
Quiet cracking at work amid layoffs and AI: A new workplace crisis, termed "quiet cracking," is emerging due to layoffs and AI advancements, leaving employees feeling unappreciated and disengaged. This decline in morale, distinct from quiet quitting, stems from feeling overworked and undervalued, costing the global economy billions in lost productivity. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads AI Push and Layoffs Are Fueling 'Quiet Cracking' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads More Than Half of Workers Say They're Unhappy at Work Quiet Cracking Is Costing the Global Economy Billions Fixing Work Culture Before It Breaks: What Managers Must Do Now Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs : A new workplace crisis is creeping in, and it is not just hitting workers hard, but it's also costing companies hundreds of billions of dollars in global productivity loss, as per a layoffs intensify and AI becomes the buzzword, most employees are mentally and emotionally struggling to do more with less and career advancement seems to be an impossibility, according to a Fortune are scared of voicing out their concerns as they might be risking putting their neck on the line in a dire job market, which has led the staff to silently but massively disengage with their employers, which is called 'quiet cracking,' as reported by in chief and career writer for Kickresume, Martin Poduška highlighted that 'The telltale signs of quiet cracking are very similar to burnout. You may notice yourself lacking motivation and enthusiasm for your work, and you may be feeling useless, or even angry and irritable,' adding, 'These are all common indicators of quiet cracking, and they gradually get worse over time,' as quoted in the READ: Is Oracle facing headwinds? After layoffs, its 4-decade veteran Chief Security Officer Mary Ann Davidson departs It is not like 'quiet quitting,' because the decline in productivity from workers is not intentional, but it's caused by feeling worn down and unappreciated by their employers, and most employees they don't even realise that it is creeping up on them until it's too late, according to the Fortune report. However, they are also unable to quit in protest because of the current job market, which has left them ultimately stuck and unhappy in their roles, as per the report.A 2025 report from TalentLMS found that almost 54% of employees reported feeling unhappy at work, with the frequency ranging from occasionally to constantly, as reported by READ: Were YouTube Influencers Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood's lives put at risk for views? Watch the shocking SUV crash viral video Quiet cracking is not only taking an emotional toll on employees, but the trend is also hitting businesses hard, according to the report. Gallup report found that last year, the proportion of engaged employees globally fell to 21% from 23%, which was similar to the drop in enthusiasm seen during the COVID-19 lockdown, costing the world economy about $438 billion in lost productivity, as per the Fortune career expert warned that managers need to stand on guard to spot fissures in company culture before employees are fully down in the dumps, as reported by Fortune. Poduška advised that, 'If you've noticed an employee becoming more and more disengaged with their work, it may be best to schedule a time where you can discuss how they feel,' as quoted in the report. He added that, 'Setting them new tasks, providing new learning opportunities, and simply having an honest conversation could steer things back in the right direction,' as quoted by study also revealed that out of the workers who experience quiet cracking, 47% said that their managers do not listen to their concerns, as per the READ: Morgan Stanley: AI boom could add $16 trillion to markets, but workers may pay the price as 90% jobs may be impacted Another way to motivate workers is to provide training to workers, as it shows that the company is interested in their career advancement, according to Fortune. TalentLMS study found that about 62% of staffers who aren't quite cracking receive training, compared to 44% of those who frequently or constantly experience the feeling, as reported by report pointed out that, 'When employee training is prioritized, it signals care, investment, and belief in people's potential,' as quoted by Fortune. It also added that, 'It fuels motivation, builds capability, and creates a culture where people want to contribute—and stay. Training isn't just about skill-building; it's an antidote to disengagement. A catalyst for connection,' as quoted by READ: Leaked: iPhone 17 Pro Max internal design shows game-changing metal battery, hints at big redesign It can feel like you're disconnected, tired all the time, frustrated, or like your work doesn't matter, but you're still showing up every day, as per the Fortune the job market is uncertain, and many feel stuck. They're not ready to leave, but they're also not thriving.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Move over quiet quitting — as AI looms ‘quiet cracking' is costing $438 billion and wrecking workers' health
Quiet cracking at work amid layoffs and AI : A new workplace crisis is creeping in, and it is not just hitting workers hard, but it's also costing companies hundreds of billions of dollars in global productivity loss, as per a report. AI Push and Layoffs Are Fueling 'Quiet Cracking' As layoffs intensify and AI becomes the buzzword, most employees are mentally and emotionally struggling to do more with less and career advancement seems to be an impossibility, according to a Fortune report. Employees are scared of voicing out their concerns as they might be risking putting their neck on the line in a dire job market, which has led the staff to silently but massively disengage with their employers, which is called 'quiet cracking,' as reported by Fortune. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Editor in chief and career writer for Kickresume, Martin Poduška highlighted that 'The telltale signs of quiet cracking are very similar to burnout. You may notice yourself lacking motivation and enthusiasm for your work, and you may be feeling useless, or even angry and irritable,' adding, 'These are all common indicators of quiet cracking, and they gradually get worse over time,' as quoted in the report. ALSO READ: Is Oracle facing headwinds? After layoffs, its 4-decade veteran Chief Security Officer Mary Ann Davidson departs Live Events More Than Half of Workers Say They're Unhappy at Work It is not like 'quiet quitting,' because the decline in productivity from workers is not intentional, but it's caused by feeling worn down and unappreciated by their employers, and most employees they don't even realise that it is creeping up on them until it's too late, according to the Fortune report. However, they are also unable to quit in protest because of the current job market, which has left them ultimately stuck and unhappy in their roles, as per the report. A 2025 report from TalentLMS found that almost 54% of employees reported feeling unhappy at work, with the frequency ranging from occasionally to constantly, as reported by Fortune. ALSO READ: Were YouTube Influencers Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood's lives put at risk for views? Watch the shocking SUV crash viral video Quiet Cracking Is Costing the Global Economy Billions Quiet cracking is not only taking an emotional toll on employees, but the trend is also hitting businesses hard, according to the report. Gallup report found that last year, the proportion of engaged employees globally fell to 21% from 23%, which was similar to the drop in enthusiasm seen during the COVID-19 lockdown, costing the world economy about $438 billion in lost productivity, as per the Fortune report. Fixing Work Culture Before It Breaks: What Managers Must Do Now The career expert warned that managers need to stand on guard to spot fissures in company culture before employees are fully down in the dumps, as reported by Fortune. Poduška advised that, 'If you've noticed an employee becoming more and more disengaged with their work, it may be best to schedule a time where you can discuss how they feel,' as quoted in the report. He added that, 'Setting them new tasks, providing new learning opportunities, and simply having an honest conversation could steer things back in the right direction,' as quoted by Fortune. TalentLMS study also revealed that out of the workers who experience quiet cracking, 47% said that their managers do not listen to their concerns, as per the report. ASLO READ: Morgan Stanley: AI boom could add $16 trillion to markets, but workers may pay the price as 90% jobs may be impacted Another way to motivate workers is to provide training to workers, as it shows that the company is interested in their career advancement, according to Fortune. TalentLMS study found that about 62% of staffers who aren't quite cracking receive training, compared to 44% of those who frequently or constantly experience the feeling, as reported by Fortune. TalentLMS report pointed out that, 'When employee training is prioritized, it signals care, investment, and belief in people's potential,' as quoted by Fortune. It also added that, 'It fuels motivation, builds capability, and creates a culture where people want to contribute—and stay. Training isn't just about skill-building; it's an antidote to disengagement. A catalyst for connection,' as quoted by Fortune. ALSO READ: Leaked: iPhone 17 Pro Max internal design shows game-changing metal battery, hints at big redesign FAQs What does quiet cracking feel like? It can feel like you're disconnected, tired all the time, frustrated, or like your work doesn't matter, but you're still showing up every day, as per the Fortune report. Why aren't employees just quitting? Because the job market is uncertain, and many feel stuck. They're not ready to leave, but they're also not thriving.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four key AI skills anyone can learn
Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. Having some proficiency in AI is becoming an essential tool for workers and job seekers alike – who are relying on the technology to generate ideas, automate tasks, analyse data, craft cover letters and more. Research shows that more of us are leaning on AI to help us at work. According to Zety's 2025 Future or Work Report, 95% of employees are actively participating in training or taking other steps to improve their AI skills, and 71% already use AI at work. Nearly one in four people wish their employers would make AI-powered tools readily available, a survey of more than 1,100 people by LiveCareer found. Read more: Does AI mean less pay for workers? For the technology-shy, the idea of embracing AI can be daunting. But learning to use it productively – and ethically – isn't as difficult as it can seem. Although the term 'AI skills' encompasses the computing skills needed to design and build AI tools, not all AI skills are so technical. AI literacy, understanding what AI can do and how to use AI systems, is an important competency that anyone can develop. When we talk about AI, we tend to think about tools like ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini. These are examples of generative AI, models that use existing data to create new content like text, images, videos and music. The key to using these tools is being able to write good prompts – questions, information or sentences – which influence the quality of the outputs you receive. 'Workers in any industry can benefit from learning how to write a great prompt for chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT,' says Martin Poduška, at Kickresume. 'We recently researched AI use at work and found that 78% of workers across many different industries use these tools in some way. Knowing what to include in the prompt in order to get the results you want is a skill that everyone would benefit from developing.' To write a good prompt, keep your instructions concise, straightforward and conversational. Outline the context of the prompt, for example, if you're asking an AI to write an email to a client, you may want to tell it to be professional. You can refine your prompt again by changing a word or phrase if you don't get the results you're looking for with your first attempt. AI tools are not foolproof, so it's important to verify any facts and figures provided in an output and double-check any references included. Often, AI outputs can be filled with vague 'filler' text and buzzwords. In a paper published in 2024, academics highlighted how large language models (LLM) are proliferating 'careless speech' online – AI-generated output that contains 'subtle inaccuracies, oversimplifications or biased responses' that are phrased confidently. 'Being able to critically evaluate text or images created by generative AI is a specific kind of digital literacy skill that will only become more important as AI becomes more frequently used,' says Poduška. 'Workers should always be on the lookout for errors or 'hallucinations' – incorrect or misleading outputs – in the text, and should develop their research skills to double check its accuracy.' Rose Luckin, a professor of learner-centred design at University College London and an expert in AI use in education, says strategic AI integration is key. Essentially, the goal is to use AI to complement and improve human work, not to fully automate it. 'This involves understanding how to effectively incorporate AI tools to enhance human capabilities, recognising opportunities where AI can augment decision-making, developing critical evaluation skills to assess AI outputs, and maintaining human oversight and judgement,' she says. Staying curious about ways to use AI to save time can be helpful, adds Poduška. 'One great example is using a chatbot to summarise long content like reports or emails, which can be really helpful if you're returning to a project after working on something else and need to refresh your memory,' he says. 'There are lots of AI tools that you can use very easily for tasks that don't require you to learn any coding, you just need to be open to trying something new. For instance, Grammarly checks spelling and grammar, and Canva helps you edit (and generate) images and presentations.' It's also essential to recognise the limitations of the technology. AI lacks human qualities like creativity, emotional intelligence, judgement and true contextual understanding. Read more: Is it ever worth revenge quitting your job? For example, AI may be able to write an email to a disgruntled customer, but it will likely lack the 'human touch' and may end up irritating them more. Likewise, an over-reliance on AI-driven hiring tools means taking human intuition out of the hiring process, which can lead to talented applicants being overlooked. Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at Zety, says the future of work will likely be a blend of human expertise and AI innovation. 'While HR managers are increasingly supportive of AI in job applications, the human element – trust, communication, and engagement – remains essential. Companies must navigate this intersection carefully to foster a work environment that values both technology and the people who power it.' You can teach yourself how to use a lot of AI tools and like any skill, practice is key. However, taking a course can be a good way to develop more technical skills. 'There are a number of online courses available that you can follow in your own time, from free overviews to more in-depth, paid options,' says Poduška. 'But these might still be accessible to lots of people as many are affordably priced, and employers are often happy to pay for their teams to have training. Read more: Why some leaders infantilise their workers 'If you're looking for online courses I'd recommend choosing ones that are fairly recent so the information is up to date,' he adds. 'You can see that these courses have a range of applications and are targeted towards different industries and sectors.' Ultimately, there is no denying that Al may be a threat to some workers and their roles. But for others, it may be possible to take advantage of the rise of the technology by learning new skills – especially job seekers. 'Being able to confidently use this technology to save time, automate tasks and generate new ideas looks great on an application and will come across well in an interview,' says Poduška. Read more: Working parents are missing out on networking, new research suggests How to spot if you're being love-bombed at work Monotasking: How to focus on one thing at a time
