Experiencing Fatigue and Emotional Strain: Workers on Quiet Cracking

Kevin dwelled on negative memories. Masiel reached for snacks. Sara shed tears en route to her office.

The term "quiet cracking" refers to a subtle form of dissatisfaction at work without the ability to leave. Frank Giampietro, chief officer for employee well-being at EY, explained that these workers "feel stuck in their current situation."

Many remain in unsatisfying jobs due to financial dependence or fear that changing jobs won't improve their situation. The current unstable job market has intensified these feelings. Sometimes, simply staying put feels safer than the uncertainty that change might bring.

Five individuals who have encountered "quiet cracking" shared their stories with Business Insider, revealing their feelings of entrapment and how they coped.

Chanel Douglas was comforted by learning about "quiet cracking," thinking, "I’m not alone in this."

As a single mother in a small state, Chanel carved out a niche career without a college degree, which many of her peers had.

She noted, "Considering my cost of living and the career I've built, I'm tethered. Every day is a challenge just to hold it together until lunchtime."

Working as a 37-year-old facility planner in healthcare, Douglas found her stress levels reaching unprecedented heights. Various factors accumulated, creating a "perfect storm" that led to serious mental health struggles, including a panic attack, compelling her to take a temporary break for therapy.

While feeling trapped at work is not new, the phrase "quiet cracking" puts a name to it. Kevin Ford, aged 56, recounted his experience from over a decade ago when he worked in IT.

Misaligned with the company’s management approach, Ford pursued an MBA focusing on different business areas. As a middle manager, he had optimized his team's operations but questioned his overall contribution.

Personal Stories of Resilience

Despite his company covering his MBA costs, Ford felt a need to defend his team against what he perceived as management's unfair practices.

"At times, my attention would be consumed entirely by thoughts about work," Ford admitted, experiencing "flashback" episodes of negative workplace events.

This distress negatively impacted his job performance. "Neither my employer nor I benefited," he reflected.

After enduring 18 months of being "stuck," Ford eventually chose to move on.

Workplace dissatisfaction is widespread. Gallup's 2024 survey found only 31% of U.S. employees felt engaged at work, with a mere 18% expressing "extreme satisfaction." In May 2025, satisfaction dipped to 19%, down from 28% in January 2014.

A Business Insider survey revealed that of 163 readers, 154 experienced "quiet cracking." Respondent Will Reddington spoke of "massive demotivation, exhaustion, and feeling ignored."

Masiel Morillo, a 32-year-old product security engineer, noticed post-pandemic and during layoffs that people were hesitant to risk stability. Her main coping mechanism was excessive snacking.

"Snacking is my anxiety's outlet," she expressed.

Work-induced stress is common and doesn’t always indicate systemic issues; sometimes it's inherent to the job.

Sara Stroman, aged 44, acknowledged this. She viewed work-life balance attempts as "futile;" everyone is just managing.

Yet, an arduous day differs from a harmful workplace. Stroman recounted feeling undervalued in her sales role at a food distributor, likened to an assistant despite being a leading salesperson.

"I felt locked in a hostile environment where I could never meet expectations," she shared.

Stroman maintained composure by being cordial at work, though she cried during her commute. Deeply in debt from college, she felt financially compelled to stay.

She ultimately reached a turning point. On Father's Day, while driving past a street bearing her deceased father's name, a radio song hinted, "It's time to move on."

Taking it as a cue, Stroman decided, "It's my time to plan an exit."

By setting a personal deadline, she prepared to leave on her own terms.

"I could part ways in the manner I chose," she concluded.