Rust out is a new workplace trend that is catching on among employees, joining other famous trends such as the Great Resignation of 2021, quiet quitting and quiet firing.
When an employee rusts out, it means that he or she has become bored in the workplace, ultimately becoming depressed and apathetic. Some experts call it the lesser-known cousin to burnout.
The term is used to define the feeling between boredom and burnout and it is when an employee is fed up about how they are being treated within the job, rather than the role.
Burnout is when the demands of the role exceed the time, ability and resources. While rust out is when the demands of the role are lower than the worker’s skills and ability, leading to boredom and frustration.
Analytics firm Gallup’s global workplace 2022 report found that a mere 21 per cent of people felt engaged at work, highlighting that a majority of the workforce is rusting out or on the verge of a rust out.
Experts have also found that rust out is more likely to affect women than men.
It usually happens when you work in a job that you’re overqualified for. In some unique cases, a rust out could take place due to quiet firing.
In a rust out, an employee slowly loses a sense of meaning or purpose in the work they are doing. It goes well beyond being bored and can be mentally as well as physically detrimental to an employee.
It can lead to depression, sleepiness, cravings for sugary or fatty foods, and an increase in risk-taking behaviours.
It’s not a permanent situation and can be resolved.
It is vital for companies to be more aware of rust out and to counter it by identifying their employees’ worth and providing them with work that will make them feel recognised and valued.
Some other experts note that an employee feeling a rust out should take a breather or go on a vacation to refresh their mind, and seek some clarity.