Recently, we have been hearing the term ‘job hopping’ quite a bit. During the global pandemic came ‘The Great Resignation’, where employees were leaving their jobs for better opportunities. However, there has been a shift in the job marketplace in the last few years, which has resulted in a new trend: Job Hugging.
What is Job Hugging?
Job Hugging is the tendency of employees to hold tightly to their current jobs, even when they are underpaid, overworked, dissatisfied, or even underutilized.
Instead of exploring new opportunities, these employees choose stability over change. Job hugging reflects a deeper shift in how employees perceive stability, growth, and risk in uncertain economic times, fueled by AI-based job cuts, downsizing, job role restructuring, etc.
Reasons for Job Hugging
The common reasons for job hugging include:
- Economic Uncertainty
- Fear of Layoffs
- Competitive Job Markets
- Personal Responsibilities
While job hugging might be counterproductive to employers, it is often a survival strategy for employees. These employees perform their duties as required and rarely seek promotions or role changes. While they may be ambitious, their fear of losing job prevents them from taking any risks.
Conclusion
Job hugging may not be completely a negative trait, as it often reflects rational decisions taken during economic uncertainty. As for the employers, while it may seem to be helpful in employee retention, it can also be a sign of hidden dissatisfaction, leading to delayed innovations.
Hence, leaders and HR teams should work with employees to ensure that they feel secure in their jobs and engage actively to evolve with their organization.
