The shape-shifting ghosts that haunt the world of employment

Ghosting is a disturbingly common topic in employment conversation, but did you know that it’s not just potential job applicants who are subject to this nasty form of unprofessionalism in the workplace?

The origin of the word ghosting, in reference to ending a personal or professional relationship by cutting off all forms of contact, is debatable, however, most would agree that it dates back to the early 2000s.

For nearly two decades, ghosting has been an accepted and even expected aspect of our professional lives, becoming synonymous with the job application process where we firmly believed we either had the role, or had a real chance, just never to hear from “enthusiasts”. ‘ the employer again.

When we hear the term ghosting, it’s fair to say that most of us immediately think of the above scenario, but ghosting doesn’t just affect job seekers. In fact, it has insidiously wormed its way into the core of employment, making standard day-to-day processes much more difficult for a variety of professionals.

Let’s take a look at some of the other forms of ghosting and the impact they have on day-to-day work.

External forces

Anyone in a job that requires a degree of data from external sources will tell you about the frustration that sometimes comes with it. There is a balance to meeting deadlines, hitting targets and meeting higher expectations that is very easily thrown off balance by time interruptions such as ghosts from outside forces.

Imagine the scenario. You are hard at work on a project, the work on your end is planned and completed, all that is required now is final input from an individual outside your organization. You’ve planned ahead, but you’re still waiting.

To make matters worse, if you are a freelancer in your industry or work independently of a team, there may not be an opportunity to address your issues further up the chain of command, or to discuss alternative steps with colleagues. Your contact failed to communicate with you.

It may be tempting in the heat of the moment to send off an angry email detailing how your time was wasted, but this will never be the right move. What you can do is write a professional email, admit that you have a deadline you’re aiming to meet, and offer to help in a way that can speed up the process.

You may be met with stark silence, or indeed an excuse for being late that doesn’t hold back your frustrations, but it’s usually best to acknowledge the people in question, thank them for their time and, if appropriate necessary, remove them as a professional contact in the future.

It is important not to criticize yourself too much. You cannot control other people’s actions, and it is unfair to take on the burden and anxiety of other people’s responsibilities.

The silence of collaborators

A less discussed issue within ghost chat is its prevalence among employees working in the same company. Some organizations may have small teams of less than 50 people, so it’s easier to keep track of internal communications.

This is not the case for larger companies that employ hundreds or even thousands of people. You may be one of the millions of people around the world who work remotely and whose connection to their workplace depends almost entirely on robust internal communication channels.

When you find that your attempts to engage with a co-worker through the usual methods have failed, it can be difficult to navigate the company bureaucracy. On the one hand you may not want to cause unnecessary strife, but on the other hand, your work is getting in the way, putting your job security at risk.

Fortunately, there are several ways to deal with the issue of a ghost colleague. A good place to start is with the colleague in question. It may be helpful to ask yourself why someone might behave this way and if the shoe were on the other foot, how would you like to be treated?

An open conversation with the coworker in which you reach a consensus about what happened and how to avoid further conflict may be all that is needed to resolve things. The issue could be as simple as your colleague being away for a few days, or your correspondence being lost or buried somehow.

Workplace dynamics are complex, whether you’re in an office or not, so it can be helpful to step back for a moment and make sure you’re comfortable with the next steps.

Phantom Revenge

In recent years there has been a twist in the tale when it comes to ghosts. The old narrative of job applicant being ignored by recruiters is still very problematic, but recently the world of work has seen a show in the ghost of recruiters and employers, from candidates and even current employees.

While it may be tempting to turn the tables and ghost an organization because you think you’re giving as good as you got, ghosting may, admittedly, not benefit you and may even harm your career in the future.

A recent survey from Thriving Center of Psychology found that one in four respondents admitted to ghosting their employer simply by leaving, with zero notice or explanation. In all likelihood, the employees in question were within their rights to quit and seek a better fit, but it’s worth noting that past behaviors can resurface, jeopardizing future career opportunities.

There’s a lot to be said for leaving a company on good terms, as you never know who you’ll end up crossing paths with. So put your best foot forward and don’t let the ghosts of the past dictate the future.

Find out how new tech trends are transforming tomorrow with our new podcast, Future Human: The Series. Listen now SpotifyIN Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.