If an employer no longer wants to employ you, they will generally just let you go. Sometimes, however, employers know that the reason they want to get rid of you is illegal. They know that firing you might cause you to challenge them and put them in a difficult legal position. This is when they may turn to “quiet firing,” instead.
Quiet firing means pushing you to decide to leave so that no one can accuse them of firing you illegally. Nevertheless, despite what the employer may think, you may still be able to hold them responsible for this if their reasons are unlawful. For example, if it comes down to discrimination or retaliation after you participated in a protected activity such as reporting discrimination or whistleblowing on unsafe practices.
Pushing you to make the decision to leave
Here are some ways an employer might attempt to quiet fire someone:
- Dumbing down your job: You’re a highly trained professional who was once at the forefront of new developments in the company. Now, you find yourself carrying out routine tasks that an intern could do.
- Reducing your income: Your employer knows you rely on the extra money that regular overtime provides. They know you will struggle without it. So they take away your ability to earn it and no longer offer you extra shifts.
- Ostracising you: Your boss no longer acknowledges you when you enter each morning. When you try to start up a conversation, they just walk off. They didn’t even invite you to the work get-together last month, despite you having attended all previous ones and despite everyone else getting an invite.
If you believe your employer is trying to quiet fire you for unlawful reasons, it’s important to know that there may be legal options available.