General
quiet layoffs
What does quiet layoffs mean?
Reducing headcount through low-profile means such as attrition, reassignments, or small quiet cuts rather than a single visible mass layoff, to avoid negative attention.
"Officially there were no layoffs, but the quiet layoffs thinned the team by a third over the year."
Origin
Workplace-trend term related to quiet cutting and quiet firing, prominent in mid-2020s coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What are 'quiet layoffs'?
They're headcount reductions done subtly through attrition, reassignments, or small cuts, rather than one visible mass layoff, so the company avoids negative attention.
How do quiet layoffs differ from regular layoffs?
Regular layoffs are announced and visible, while quiet layoffs happen gradually and quietly, often without any official announcement.
Where does the term come from?
It belongs to the 'quiet' family of workplace terms (like quiet quitting and quiet firing) that became prominent in mid-2020s coverage.
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