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On social media, “quiet firing” refers to a situation where employees are sidelined in a way that may lead them to resign rather than be formally dismissed.
It often does not begin with a clear signal.
Instead, it may unfold gradually, with fewer opportunities, exclusion from meetings and repeated rejection of work.
In Singapore, the term is not defined in law.
“Quiet firing is a social phenomenon that has not been clearly defined,” said a spokesman for the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), adding that such cases are assessed based on existing employment laws and tripartite guidelines.
Under the Employment Act, employees are protected against wrongful dismissal, defined as dismissal without just or sufficient cause.
The Tripartite Guidelines on Wrongful Dismissal further state that involuntary resignation can amount to wrongful dismissal, said the TADM and TAFEP spokesman.
This means that even if an employee resigns, the law may treat it as a dismissal if the resignation was effectively forced.
However, not all forms of perceived “quiet firing” are unlawful, noted Mr Nicolas Tang, managing director...
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