Dating’s Influence on Workplace Trends

Terms once reserved for dating and relationships are now common in the workplace. But what do each of these buzzwords mean? And is there any truth behind each trend?

Using unique insights from hundreds of thousands of reviews left by UK employees on Glassdoor, career expert Jill Cotton explains the data behind the latest workplace trends.

Ghosting

You’ve had a few dates. Everything seems to be going well. But then messages go unanswered, and meetings are forgotten. If the person you have been seeing cuts contact without warning, you have been ghosted. 

But ghosting isn’t just confined to relationships. Despite continued labour shortages in 2022, companies increasingly ghosted job seekers. Since the pandemic, the share of interview reviews on Glassdoor that mention ‘ghosting’ has tripled (up 208%). And candidates applying via recruiters report the most instances of being ghosted.

However, ghosting can work both ways - and with job vacancies still high, candidates are also guilty of cutting off companies that initially sparked an interest. Whether a job hunter or employer, you risk blemishing your reputation if you cut all engagement suddenly, so think carefully before you ‘ghost’.

Workplace Cuffing

Autumn signals the start of cuffing season in the dating world. It's a time for single people to ‘handcuff’ themselves to a potential partner to see them through the cold and lonely winter months ahead. But the commitment is only temporary as post-Valentines Day partners begin to look for new opportunities.

October also marks the start of cuffing season for job hunters. Glassdoor research reveals a huge spike in candidates actively looking for a new role before winter sets in.

And companies need to be quick to hire as frantic job hunting sharply declines once November hits - dropping 16%. Now that workers are ‘cuffed,’ activity pauses over Christmas and into the New Year. Job searches then soar 28% in January and peak in February, just ahead of the spring.

Quiet Quitting

Quiet quitting was one of the biggest workplace trends to emerge in 2022 and is another term with roots in dating terminology. But what exactly is it?

In a relationship, quiet quitting is when one person stops trying and gives up without telling their partner about their feelings or needs. At work, the term has two interpretations: for some, ‘quiet quitting’ is a total disengagement from their company, hiding in the shadows and doing the bare minimum to get by. For others, the phrase is about putting healthier boundaries into practice to achieve a better work-life balance - important as mentions of ‘burnout’ were up 48% in 2022 amongst employee reviews on Glassdoor. The worker’s satisfaction with their role  is still relatively high, they remain part of the company culture and want to get ahead, but they are refusing to overwork.

With the UK’s job vacancy rates still high, workers may feel more confident to quit quietly when other roles are on offer. But quiet quitting shouldn’t be seen as a long-term strategy. Instead, use the practice as a mechanism to create space to think about the next step in a career.

Cushioning / Career Cushioning

In the dating world, 'cushioning' means keeping your options open should your current relationship not work out.

At work, employees have become increasingly worried about their jobs with a looming recession and an uncertain economy. Mentions of 'layoffs' and 'being made redundant' doubled in 2022 in employee reviews. And in response to jitters, workers are 'career cushioning'.

Nervous employees are quietly scoping out a 'plan B' if they lose their job due to reasons outside their control. Cushioning - also known as 'recession proofing your career’ - recognises that your current job won't be your last.

Career cushioning can range from the subtle prep of your CV and re-connecting with recruiters and hiring managers, to full-on applying for new roles on the down-low. The key to success is discretion and balance; career cushioning is just enough to set yourself up for future success should you lose your job without putting yourself in a vulnerable position if your employer is looking to cut costs.

Toxic Relationship / Toxic Workplace

A toxic relationship is one in which you feel unsupported, undermined or misunderstood. Controlling behaviour and resentment coupled with high stress levels are just a few of the red flags signalling this negative situation.

In the workplace, analysis of millions of Glassdoor reviews found toxic work culture is the biggest factor pushing employees out the door. And like in dating, toxic behaviour can seriously impact a person's mental health and wellbeing.

Employee reviews also reveal that companies engaging in toxicity are most often described as non-inclusive, disrespectful, unethical, cut-throat and abusive. If you see these words repeated in company reviews while job hunting, ask the hiring manager more questions about the organisation's culture and practices.

End-Zoning

You may have heard of ‘friend-zoning’ when a romantic relationship turns into something platonic. Well, end-zoning marks the end of the line for that relationship. There’s no turning back; instead of love, cynicism about the other person has taken hold.

The same trend can be seen in the workplace as disillusioned employees unhappy with their company put their job in the end-zone.

At its most basic, feeling cynical about work means the person lacks trust and confidence in their employer. And it can be dangerous as, without trust and confidence, an employee is unlikely to feel satisfied in their role. Glassdoor research shows the biggest drivers of employee satisfaction are the culture and values of the company, the strength of senior leadership and access to career opportunities. If these drivers are missing, it can be easy to feel cynical about your job. 

Disengagement is hard to hide and could be a red flag to your employer. If cynical feelings begin to seep in, ask yourself why your feelings have changed so that you don’t make the same mistake again.

Gaslighting

Taking its moniker from a 1930’s stage play, ‘gaslighting’ is a form of psychological manipulation that hinges on creating self-doubt. A healthy balance of power is also lost to one person having complete control over the other.

Analysis by Glassdoor’s Economic Research found mentions of ‘gaslight’ (or closely related terms such as ‘gaslighter’ or ‘gaslighting’) doubled in 2021. The term was used almost entirely negatively, with 98% of mentions being in the ‘cons’ section of reviews, and coincided with a heightened dissatisfaction with the workplace experience during the pandemic.