A new trend is hitting the UK and causing headaches for small business owners and HR managers, according to CV-Library.
'Ghosting' is a term typically related to dating, where a person simply breaks off all communication with their partner in order to break-up with them, rather than actually telling them it's over. But new research from CV-Library has found that workers are ghosting their employers to leave their jobs.
The study suggests that nearly three million workers (8.9%) in the UK have ghosted their employer and simply not turned up for work, rather than formally handing in their resignation. Being mistreated by management, finding better job prospects with immediate start-dates, constantly facing unrealistic workloads and a lack of flexibility in work schedules were highlighted as the main reasons for ghosting an employer.
But this trend actually starts to surface at the very beginning of employment. More than half (52.8%) of workers surveyed said they have been ghosted by an employer or recruiter for an interview. In contrast, just 14% admitted to ignoring all communication before an interview. CV-Library suggests that because workers are more likely to have been ghosted in the past, they are not afraid to turn the tables when leaving a job.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “The recruitment process is tedious for both job hunters and employers, but that’s no excuse for either party to simply ignore the other. Now that the trend has made its way into the workplace, it’s critical that businesses correct this behaviour. If a candidate is constantly ignored by employers, a signal is being sent to workers that the behaviour is acceptable. Businesses ought to be extremely cautious moving forward; the job market is flourishing which means there are plenty of opportunities available for workers to jump ship if they want to. It’s clear that two-way communication is more important now than ever before, as many of the reasons behind a worker ghosting their job are issues that could be resolved through support from management.”
