Many employees today are showing signs of what experts call “quiet cracking.”
If you’ve been feeling unmotivated, unproductive, or like it’s a struggle just to get to work every day, you may be quietly cracking yourself.
The term describes a slow, creeping burnout that can be hard to notice. Imagine a plate that develops tiny cracks over time—it seems fine until one day it suddenly shatters. That’s how many workers end up feeling: intact on the surface but on the verge of breaking.
This is a widespread problem. A TalentLMS survey found that more than half of employees have experienced quiet quitting at some point in their careers.
There are many reasons employees might reach this state.
“Quiet cracking may be caused by managers failing to offer enough support or recognition, leaving employees feeling undervalued,” said Peter Duris, co-founder and CEO of Kickresume, in a statement to HRD America.
“When there’s no clear path for progression or a sense of purpose, employees start questioning the point of their role. This often results in dissatisfaction and lost motivation.”
According to the survey, 15% of employees don’t clearly understand their role, and 29% feel overwhelmed with an unmanageable workload. Both of these issues can create fertile ground for quiet cracking.
Experts warn against ignoring the signs. If left unaddressed, quiet cracking can get worse, potentially leading to “revenge quitting.”
“Revenge quitting is on the rise,” said content creator Ben Askins, describing it as a form of protest where employees choose to quit in the most disruptive way possible in response to perceived unfair treatment.
Examples include walking out in the middle of a shift or quitting while knowing the workplace is already short-staffed and in urgent need of help.
If you recognize yourself in these patterns, the best thing you can do is talk to your manager about how you’re feeling before it reaches a breaking point.