More than one in four UK workers have considered leaving a job because of a 'loud working' culture, new research from Tide shows. The company registration provider found that 27% of employees have weighed up quitting when colleagues are particularly vocal about their own work, and nearly one in ten have already walked out over it.
What is 'loud working'?
Loud working means making sure everyone around you knows about your achievements rather than keeping them under your hat. It is not limited to posting on LinkedIn. In companies that promote such a culture, it can also involve being encouraged to give yourself a shout out in the company-wide group chat on Slack, or making sure your voice is always heard in meetings.
Across the UK, Tide reports that workers spend an average of 2.8 hours a week making their work visible. Over a year, that adds up to 131 hours, or more than 17 working days.
A symptom of a 'worrying workplace culture'
Jim Moore, employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, told Metro that, in his opinion, this is a symptom of a 'worrying workplace culture'.
'Every workplace always had its share of show-offs, but now it's been rebranded for the LinkedIn generation,' he said. 'Too many employees feel their efforts won't be appreciated or seen unless they broadcast it 20 times a day.'
'A need for constant self-promotion suggests that a business's leaders value performative productivity, rather than actually seeing and rewarding good, valuable work,' Jim added. 'The fact that a quarter of workers have considered leaving a job because of it shows how toxic this habit can be. Quieter colleagues who simply get on with the work feel punished, despite the fact that they're the ones driving the company forward.'
It's all about how you approach it
Career coach and workplace expert Hannah Salton agrees that the concept of 'loud working' is divisive, but she also sees its merits. 'The key to bear in mind is the nuance of how you approach this,' she explained.
If an employee engages in 'loud working', it could potentially help them get recognised, which could lead to a promotion or a pay rise. However, if individuals are being rewarded solely for being active about their achievements online, it can feel unfair.
'Companies expecting employees to post about work on social media can backfire. Sharing wins online works best when the individual wants to do it and it feels real,' Hannah told Metro. 'Being asked to post on cue can be frustrating, especially if the person is private, uncomfortable being visible or just not interested in building a public profile.'
'It can also send the wrong message,' she added.
Over time, a 'loud working' environment could lead to resentment, lower motivation and, for some, a decision to leave. 'A culture where people share good news because they are proud of it will always do more for a brand than one where they feel obliged to.'
