Are you one of the many startup founders who have been blindsided by an employee slowly doing less and less work until you’re forced to fire them? They don’t quit, they let you do the work. They are silent quitting. It’s a phenomenon that’s becoming increasingly common, and it can leave you feeling frustrated and confused. But there is hope! Here's how to avoid the silent quitting syndrome among your employees in your own workplace.

First of all it’s important not to blame employees and point fingers for silent quitting. There's a reason why this is becoming a trend. You need to treat the cause (your organisation), not the symptom. This type of departure has become increasingly common among especially millennials. So why are they leaving in such a way? It’s important to note that there isn’t necessarily anything malicious involved; instead, it often comes down to feelings of being undervalued or not appreciated in their current role, or simply wanting a fresh start elsewhere.

So What Can You Do?

Start by making sure your employees feel valued and appreciated. Showing appreciation for your employees can be as simple as taking the time to thank them or recognize their hard work publicly. You should also make sure that you are providing them with challenging work that allows them to make meaningful contributions to the company. Building relationships outside of work can also be beneficial; try organising outings so your employees can get to know each other better and grow closer together.

Finally, find out what matters most to your employees; this could be anything from more flexible hours to more responsibility or even just more feedback on their performance. Whatever it may be, communicating openly and honestly with your team will help ensure that everyone feels included and valued in their roles. Once you know what matters most, make sure you're working towards providing those things for your employees so they don't feel like they need to leave without notice in order to find something better elsewhere.

The key takeaway here is that the silent quitting syndrome among millennials is on the rise—but it doesn't have to be! By taking the time to show appreciation for your team members, offering challenging work opportunities, getting feedback from them on what matters most, and building relationships outside of work, you can minimise the chances of any surprise departures at your startup. So take action now and put these strategies into practice before it's too late!

Hi, my name is Darius and I’m the CEO of Vitality Therapeutics. A year ago I went through a severe burnout which resulted in me starting this company and dedicating my energy to improving our collective mental health with a remarkable team.

Burnout (or work-induced depression) is shockingly common. When I first spoke publicly about burnout, I was astonished by how many people reached out and said they’re going through something similar. Burnout is not binary, it’s a scale. It’s no longer a mystery or shameful to admit that we’re all on this scale and it fluctuates throughout our careers.