Quiet Cracking in the Workplace and How Team Building Can Help

You have probably heard of quiet quitting. But the latest trend reshaping workplaces is something more subtle and potentially more damaging. It is called quiet cracking.

In a recent article RTÉ described quiet cracking as the new workplace buzzword. It reflects a growing number of employees who are showing up, doing their jobs, but emotionally disconnecting in the process. Unlike quiet quitting, where people step back deliberately, quiet cracking is more like a slow erosion of energy and enthusiasm. It is a silent problem that HR managers and People and Culture leads in Ireland cannot afford to ignore.

This blog explains what quiet cracking is, why it matters, and how team building can play a vital role in preventing disengagement before it spreads across a workforce.

What is Quiet Cracking

Quiet cracking happens when employees continue to meet the expectations of their role but stop feeling connected to the organisation or its purpose. They are not openly rebelling or slacking off. Instead they are disengaging beneath the surface.

The phrase was first coined by TalentLMS following an online survey of 1,000 US employees across industries in March 2025. According to the study, quiet cracking is “a persistent feeling of workplace unhappiness that leads to disengagement, poor performance, and an increased desire to quit.”

The survey found that 54 percent of employees experience some level of quiet cracking, compared with 47 percent who rarely or never feel this way. One in five respondents said they are stuck in a persistent state of workplace unhappiness, which often leads to disengagement, poor performance, or even plans to leave.

Quiet crackers are not quite at burnout level, but it is an unhealthy mix of dissatisfaction and demotivation. Unlike burnout it does not necessarily leave people exhausted, and unlike quiet quitting it does not always show up on performance metrics. Instead it represents an erosion of work satisfaction that over time can lead to disengagement and decreased productivity.

Research also shows that up to 20 percent of employees admit they frequently experience quiet cracking, and more than half have felt it at some stage in their career. The result is a workforce that looks fine on the outside but is struggling with morale, creativity, and connection inside.

This is very different to burnout, which is intense and visible. Quiet cracking is subtle and often harder to spot. Yet the costs to organisations are just as real, with reduced engagement, lower productivity, and eventually higher turnover. Gallup has estimated that disengaged employees can cost companies between 15 and 20 percent of their annual salary in lost productivity.

👉 Learn more about keeping employees engaged: Employee Engagement Team Building

How HR Can Spot Quiet Cracking Early

For HR leaders, the challenge is that quiet cracking is easy to miss.

Here are five signs to watch out for:

• A decline in enthusiasm, even when work is being delivered.
• Less participation in social or team activities.
• A reluctance to take on new projects or stretch assignments.
• A shift towards compliance over creativity.
• Subtle changes in mood such as being quieter, withdrawn, or detached in meetings

Creating regular opportunities to check in with employees, whether through surveys, 1:1 conversations, or observation, can help spot these warning signs before they deepen.

Why HR Needs to Act Now

Quiet cracking is dangerous precisely because it is silent. Employees still attend meetings, tick off tasks, and complete projects. But behind the scenes they are less likely to put forward new ideas, join social initiatives, or champion company culture.

When cracks like these appear, culture weakens. Innovation slows. Staff retention risks rise. And the longer it goes unnoticed, the harder it is to repair.

👉 Discover how structured experiences can re-energise your team: Team Building

Case Study Insights Rebuilding Connection Through Events

At Dynamic Events we have seen how purpose led events can reignite energy boost morale and rebuild team connection. Here are four recent examples that show how the right team building strategy can counter quiet cracking.

Hilti Summer Party 2025: Immersive Engagement

Hilti’s summer event mixed immersive activities with shared social time. Employees left recharged, connected, and more enthusiastic about the months ahead. It showed how stepping outside routine can create the energy teams need.

👉 Explore ideas for high energy days: Outdoor Team Building

Covalen's Festival Style Day: Summer Party

For a team of over 700, Covalen turned Leopardstown Racecourse into a festival style celebration. The result was a day of connection and togetherness, with employees leaving with shared memories that strengthened culture long after.

👉 See more options for creating fun shared experiences: Fun Team Building Activities

Crédit Agricole Away Day: Purpose and CSR

Crédit Agricole’s away day combined creativity with CSR. The Big Picture and SolarBuddy activities helped employees collaborate while also contributing to a meaningful cause. The outcome was pride, teamwork, and stronger alignment with company values.

👉 Related links: Big Picture | SolarBuddy: Hour of Power | CSR Team Building

Moore Ireland 50th Anniversary: Meaningful Milestones

Moore Ireland celebrated a milestone by combining festivities with a team building challenge. Employees reconnected with the company story and with each other, leaving with a renewed sense of shared purpose.

👉 More on Collaborative Creative Team Building

Practical Solutions for HR Leaders

The lessons from these events can help HR teams design proactive strategies to prevent quiet cracking.

• Break routine with immersive events. Whether it is an energising away day or an indoor challenge stepping outside the daily grind helps staff reset 👉 Indoor Team Building
• Spark collaboration with problem solving challenges. Activities like The Escape or Code Breaker put employees in new situations where teamwork and communication come alive.
• Rebuild energy with fun and play. Activities like the Digital Treasure Hunt add laughter and shared memories that directly counter disengagement.
• Reconnect staff with purpose. CSR driven activities such as SolarBuddy build pride and meaning 👉 CSR Team Building
• Invest in long term development. Employee disengagement often stems from feeling stuck. Learning based programmes build growth and resilience 👉 Team Training and Development

FAQs

What is quiet cracking?

It is when employees continue to perform their roles but emotionally disconnect from work resulting in hidden disengagement.

How is it different from quiet quitting?

Quiet quitting is a deliberate step back from going above and beyond. Quiet cracking is more subtle. People still deliver but no longer feel connected or motivated.

What causes quiet cracking in employees?

Factors include job insecurity lack of recognition stalled career progression and weak connections with colleagues.

Can team building really solve disengagement?

Yes. When designed with purpose, team building creates shared experiences that restore trust, morale, and enthusiasm. It works best alongside regular HR practices such as surveys, check ins, and manager training.

What types of events work best?

Collaborative challenges CSR activities immersive away days and creative projects all help rebuild engagement and connection.

Conclusion

Quiet cracking is a silent but growing threat to organisational culture. As the RTÉ article notes, it is becoming a widespread workplace issue. For HR leaders in Ireland the challenge is to spot it early and act before those cracks widen.

The good news is that with the right strategy team building is more than a fun day out. It is a powerful tool to rebuild morale, strengthen culture, and keep employees connected to their purpose. Combined with other HR initiatives it can play a crucial role in preventing disengagement before it spreads.

👉 Talk to the Dynamic Events team today about creating a team building programme that prevents quiet cracking and re-engages your staff.