What does quiet firing look like?

8 Comments

1. AnonymousFebruary 15,2026 at 3:19PM UTC

   Being left out of important meetings, asking for projects and being ignored, small things becoming big things and your fault, being told you will get help and even when you follow up on it they do not follow up, suddenly becoming the outcast and ignored.

2. Monica LewisFebruary 16,2026 at 1:59PM UTC

   This is how it was at my most recent job. I was the primary or key coordinator on mostly all trials but I was not able to attend any meetings for those trials and was not given any notes just a “review the protocol and SIV slides on your day off”. I mentioned to leadership that I needed help long before things got worse and I was told to go ask for help from employees who just sat around but when I would share helpful information with staff who were of help, I would be told “not to share information with them before I was not their boss”. This made me feel very low and my position was supposed to be a “don’t ask questions, just do the job and with a smile on my face no matter how burnt out I was getting”.

3. Erika REYNOLDSFebruary 15,2026 at 5:32PM UTC

   Passive-aggressive.

4. AnonymousFebruary 15,2026 at 6:21PM UTC

   Your gut feeling usually tells you when you're not really wanted there. People whispering behind your back, being given the most unpleasant tasks with no help, ignoring or harshly dismissing your suggestions, and general lack of respect are all signs that you should be polishing your resume, networking, and applying elsewhere. At the same time though, don't completely give up. If it's mostly one bad boss who has it in for you, that boss might quit or get fired, and things can definitely change for the better when that happens. Whenever you're going through a tough situation at work, remember to be extra good to yourself outside of work. Spend time with supportive people and make sure you take time to do the things that replenish you. Even if you feel depressed from the bad treatment at work, take a shower and get dressed even on your days off, get some form of exercise, eat healthy foods, and keep up your appearance. When you look better and you take care of your body, you feel better and are better equipped to deal with whatever chaos work may dish out.

5. AnonymousFebruary 16,2026 at 8:54PM UTC

   Being put on a PIP unexpectedly. Vague performance reviews. Not being included in key meetings. Your tasks being reassigned. Being expected to train someone new to essentially do your job. Hostile behavior from coworkers. Snubbing.

6. AnonymousFebruary 17,2026 at 1:20PM UTC

   You are great until you are not. You could have great performance evaluations and then all of the sudden you are receiving criticism. And your performance did not change. If you ask for clarification, they gaslight you. They make you feel like you are the problem. Your suddenly left out of important meetings that are essential for your job. Your projects are moved. You will notice but be in denial as your performance was good and you are "not one of those". Then if you are not able to leave on your own - which in this job market is possible, you will eventually be phased out, put on a PIP, or terminated for a made up reason.

7. AnonymousFebruary 17,2026 at 5:28PM UTC

   This is the truth!!

8. lyn johnsonFebruary 21,2026 at 6:12PM UTC

   best explanation ever!