Here's what I know: unhappy workers get revenge by "rage applying"

Peter Done: Group Managing Director and Founder

February 02 2023

You might have heard the term ‘quiet quitting’ bouncing about on social media.

And if you haven’t, basically it refers to staff who disconnect from a job without actually quitting. So, whilst they might show up for work and do their hours, they don’t want to be there or take on more than they absolutely have to.

But now, it seems people aren’t just passively quitting. They’re actively looking for other jobs.

The Great Resignation crisis hit because people wanted more. And they still do. Staff are leaving their jobs to find something better. Which means you’re either the thing they’re chasing or the thing they’re escaping…

And if you are the latter, that’s when your staff will start rage applying.

It’s in the name. Unhappiness goes hand in hand with anger and frustration.

The opposite of quiet quitting, “rage applying” is an active approach to getting out of a job. It happens when staff apply in bulk to other companies, hoping to land a new opportunity as soon as possible.

And whilst rage applying may be a passing trend on TikTok, it’s a long-standing issue for employers. Because unhappy staff look elsewhere. It’s as simple as that.

As the name suggests, rage applying indicates that your employee is motivated by anger. Are they frustrated with an unreasonable workload? Do they feel disrespected or underappreciated? Something’s driving people away and you need to get to the bottom of it.

When you’re alert to employee morale, you should spot signs of discontent before staff start applying elsewhere. And if you have a positive relationship with your employees, they should feel comfortable raising any concerns with you before they brush down their CV.

So, if you’re experiencing a high turnover of staff, it’s important to reflect on what’s making your workers angry enough to start rage applying their way out of your company.

And even if you’re not losing staff, it still takes work to keep hold of them. So, remember you can learn how to be the best manager you can be by signing up for e-learning sessions or accessing them on demand, whenever you need.

Take advantage of having regular expert tips for maintaining a healthy and happy workforce. Because if you really want to make positive change, it needs to come from the top.

And if you need advice on how to handle a difficult staff issue, you can speak to an adviser any time.

Just give us a call on 0800 028 2420 to get instant support today.

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