They're still here. But they've already left.
Quiet quitting, or silent disengagement, is when employees are physically present but mentally absent. They do what's required. No more. No initiative. No suggestions. No energy.
And you don't see it. Because they answer emails, they show up to meetings. But the spark is gone.
14% productivity loss per disengaged employee (Gallup). That's the measured gap between an engaged person and someone who has checked out.
For a team of 50 people:
| Scenario | % disengaged | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Strong engagement | 10% | ~€60K |
| Early warning signs | 20% | ~€120K |
| Disengagement entrenched | 30% | ~€180K |
| Widespread quiet quitting | 40% | ~€240K |
Formulas:
10% disengaged × 50 people × 14% productivity × average salary = ~€60K
40% disengaged × 50 people × 14% productivity × average salary = ~€240K
Source: Gallup (2023). Conservative estimate based on the measured gap between engaged and disengaged employees.
Disengagement is always the result of one or more active performance killers: