How to deal with issues of ‘resenteeism’ in your business

“Resenteeism” is another of the business buzzwords that have been circling lately. It refers to an employee being fed up with their job but soldiering on as they’re unable to move on.

“Not everyone loves their job all the time, and feeling unhappy or undervalued is not a new feeling in some workplaces. But now there’s a new term for it, and that’s ‘resenteeism’,” said Marketing Signals managing director Gareth Hoyle.

“The term itself comes after a wave of workplace trends, which include ‘quiet quitting’, ‘acting your wage’ and ‘quiet firing’. This particular trend stems from workers who are generally feeling unhappy and unfulfilled at work but can’t actually do anything about it as they either can’t afford to find a new role or are unable to do so for a number of reasons.”

It seems that many of these buzzword terms were brought about by the uncertainty and frustration that came with COVID-19.

Mr Hoyle continued: “The pandemic saw a seismic shift in the way we work as employees started leaving their jobs, coined ‘the Great Resignation’, resulting in those who were left behind feeling overworked and undervalued, especially in companies that were already short staffed.”

According to Mr Hoyle, inflation is a key factor in the rise of resenteeism, as employees are scared to switch roles in fear of being left financially unstable.

“We’re living in a cost-of-living crisis with the threat of a recession still looming, leaving many employees worrying about how they are going to pay their bills. It is likely that this fear is stopping many employees from finding work elsewhere where they could be happier,” he said.

“However, if as a business owner you sense your employees may be feeling this way, or they’ve revealed that they’re feeling unhappy, it might be worth asking yourself ‘why?’, and seeing whether there’s anything you can do as a leader to help.”

For employees who may be struggling with feelings of resenteeism, Mr Hoyle said it is important to communicate these issues with a manager.

“Explain what your issues are clearly, and then you can work with your employer to help resolve these before they get any worse,” he said.

“Consider what you want from your career and what it will take to make you feel happy, and discuss this with your manager. It may be that you start working on a development plan so you can progress further up the career ladder, or you could lower your hours or start working flexibly to improve your work/life balance.”

At the end of the day, your mental health should take priority. It’s important that wellbeing is considered when making career choices.

Mr Hoyle said: “Take a look at your lifestyle and find positive ways to improve your mental health, this may result in you feeling more positive at work.”

“Having a healthy work/life balance can really improve your mental health, but you have to make sure you’re switching off from work.”

Mr Hoyle noted that sometimes these approaches don’t work, and that’s when you may want to consider a change in role or position.

“If you are really struggling at work and have already discussed your situation with your manager, it may be worth just finding something new if you don’t think there will be any improvement at your current role,” he said.

Mr Hoyle added: “Remember, if you’re really unhappy, your resentment for the role may grow and start affecting your colleagues. While still at your current role, keep your mind open to new opportunities.”

Jack Campbell

Jack is the editor at HR Leader.