Has it ever happened to you that you have been performing well at work, but instead of a designation change and/or pay hike you have been given additional responsibilities to handle? Well, now there is a term for this and it is called ‘Quiet Promotion‘. And surprisingly, this is a fairly common practice in the corporate world where well-performing employees are asked to do more.
A survey by Job Sage reveals that 78% of American employees have experienced a quiet promotion.And it’s not just in the West, but quiet promotions are also quite popular in India.
How does quiet promotion affect one’s career?
Quiet promotion happens when an employee is quitting or is being laid off and their workload is being given to someone else, or when an employee has been in a company for too long but instead of a promotion, they are given additional responsibilities. Employees who get quiet promotions at the workplace often feel punished for their good work by being given additional work and responsibilities, sans any recognition and rewards. This can also lead to resentment and decreased job satisfaction, especially if there are co-workers who have the same designation and salary but less work. And over some time, it could lead to a well-performing employee feeling burnt out and eventually quitting for a better job.
In case, one accepts a quiet promotion it can affect their growth (in terms of compensation as per the industry standards) in the long run. And so, to avoid quiet promotions at the workplace, one needs to establish clear job roles and requirements with their managers.
How to avoid being quietly promoted
1. Communicate your expectations, responsibilities, and compensations clearly with your manager. While you shouldn’t shy away from additional workload, you should also ensure that your manager is aware of your expectations in terms of rewards and recognition, or compensation in turn for your work.
2. Be clear about your career goals and what you hope to achieve from your current role. This will ensure clarity and a similar vision between you and the employer/ manager.
3. Speak up for yourself and negotiate for fair compensation at the workplace. If monetary compensation is something that the employer cannot provide at the moment, then one can negotiate for a dry promotion which includes a designation change or other benefits and more responsibilities, without a salary hike.
And lastly, if you are being quietly promoted then manage your workload and ensure it doesn’t lead to burnout. Ask for help or better resources, if needed.