Indeed workplace psychologist Amanda Gordon warned Australians about a new trend that could lead to people being fired. (Source: Provided/Getty)
There’s a new trend emerging in Australian workplaces that’s raising concerns it could lead to redundancies. You’ve heard of quiet quits, quiet downsizing and quiet hiring, but ‘quiet furlough’ is a new development that’s bad for both employees and employers.
Taking time off without telling your boss is abusing your office’s work-from-home policy, which Amanda Gordon, a workplace psychologist at Indeed, told Yahoo Finance is a very dangerous move that could get you in trouble.
“I think quiet leave is problematic because it shows that employees and employers don’t really trust each other,” she said.
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Many Australians may be reluctant to request time off because they are worried that doing so may have a negative impact on business or how their boss will view their work commitment.
However, refusing to take time off can lead to burnout and stress at work, which ultimately affects performance. This could be the beginning of a toxic work environment.
Those who take quiet leave don’t go through the correct procedures to take annual leave, but instead head intercity, interstate or overseas and do just the bare minimum of work so as not to arouse suspicion.
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If you are found out, you may be fired.
Recruitment firm Robert Half recently found that 12% of Australian employees have worked on holiday without telling their boss.
Gordon warned that while they might get away with it, there would be serious consequences if they were caught.
“I think there are unspoken rules, there are unspoken rules. [where] “If you’re not at work when you’re scheduled to work, that could be grounds for termination,” she told Yahoo Finance.
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“If they’re away at work and not actually doing the work, just attending meetings here and there and not actually doing the work, that would be an indication that they’re not committed to the workplace.”
The matter has already been heard in court, with the Fair Work Commission dismissing the unfair dismissal claim of a Met Office employee who was sacked for secretly working overseas for several weeks without telling his boss.
Not only can this sour your relationship with your employer, but if you haven’t applied for the right visa, it could cause problems with your travel insurance and future travel to that destination.
It’s never a good idea to keep secrets
Indeed’s workplace psychologist explained that people shouldn’t stay in a workplace where they feel they have to keep secrets from their boss rather than themselves.
Gordon adds that if you feel like you can never get a break from work, that’s a big warning sign.
The 2022 ELMO Employee Sentiment Index found that 75% of Australians avoided taking time off due to the high cost of living and demanding workload.
While it can be stressful to have things approved or completed before you can relax, taking time off can actually be a great catalyst for change.
“Some people have found a solution with a quiet leave of absence, but I would argue that this is not a fault of the employer. Employers are not going to grow or change if employees are just doing that,” she said.
She adds that if you take annual leave your boss may realise they ultimately need more staff, better facilities or improved systems, so trying to get around this by quietly taking time off may be counterproductive.
What should employees and employers do?
Gordon advised that communication is key when it comes to managing furloughs.
“If someone goes offline and their employer doesn’t notice, then there must be some pretty poor communication,” she told Yahoo Finance.
She advised managers to check in regularly with staff to make sure they are managing their workload and feel comfortable taking time off if necessary.
The workplace psychologist added that employees need to speak up if they are feeling overwhelmed, otherwise nothing will change.
“Let’s have a conversation. Let’s figure out what works for the industry, the employers and the employees so that everybody wins,” she said.
“Instead of people feeling defeated and having to sneak away.”
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