Ghosting is to
cease communications without notification. The use of the word
"ghost" as a verb originated in social media in reference to
dating, but the term is now used by employers to describe employees and
potential employees who suddenly disappear. Typically, ghosting is used to
describe:
- Job candidates who suddenly stop responding to messages.
- New hires who fail to show up for their first day of work.
- Employees who do not show up for a shift.
- Employees who leave work in the middle of the day and never come back.
Some analysts blame
ghosting on millennial entitlement. The reasoning is that members of the
millennial generation have been brought up to feel they are special -- so
special, in fact, that they do not need to follow conventional rules of
behavior.
Other analysts,
however, maintain that ghosting behavior stems from changes in the job market
and the phenomenon is simply a reflection of the laws of supply and demand in a
healthy job market. In this context, the reasoning is that because there are
more positions to be filled than there are viable candidates, potential
employees feel comfortable ignoring recruiters and HR managers.
Ultimately, however,
ghosting demonstrates a lack of respect and in the workplace, the practice is
likely to be perceived as a sign of unprofessionalism and immaturity.
Instead of disappearing to avoid a potentially negative conversation, it's
important that job candidates and employees learn the necessary soft skills to
say "no" gracefully and keep communication channels open.
Comments
Post a Comment