New job trend 'boreout' is harming America's workplaces here's how to fix it

Published

2 years ago

September 14, 2023

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First, it was “quiet quitters” then it was “loud laborers.”

Now, American companies are dealing with another employee trend called “boreout.”

The term describes a situation in which workers are bored, unengaged, and unfulfilled in their jobs.

This trend is impacting workers, managers, and corporate America overall, according to job experts.

Here’s how it’s doing that and what to know about this career concern (and how to address it if it applies to you).

“Boreout” is a phenomenon among employees defined as chronic boredom the experience that ones work is pointless, said Peggy Klaus, a communications and leadership expert with Klaus and Associates in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“The result is employee stress, lethargy, lower creativity and productivity, an increase in physical and mental health problems, high staff turnover, and early retirement,” Klaus told FOX Business.

In the past, people who did the bare minimum at work were pegged as lazy, said Klaus.

Today, that same situation is called “quiet quitting,” she said.

Klaus said she puts the two trends in the same category.

The employees exhibiting “boreout” have spent the least amount of time in an organization and feel less emotionally connected and loyal to the company and colleagues.

“I see boreout and quiet quitting as the same thing,” she said.

“To the degree that an employee refuses to do any work outside of the job description, engage in meetings unless directly addressed or respond to phone messages or emails, among other infractions, that person is definitely exhibiting boreout,” Klaus said.

The demographic most impacted by the concept is male and in the age range of 18 to 35, Klaus said.

A number of factors have contributed, she said.

Theyve spent the least amount of time in an organization and feel less emotionally connected and loyal to the company and colleagues, she said.

They have an array of job options, as its been a buyers market of late, said Klaus.

“Boreout” is a highly contagious “virus” that spreads quickly and can infect the entire workplace.

At this time in their lives, they are less encumbered by family responsibilities and so they are willing to take risks to change jobs, change cities, and even change countries, Klaus also noted.

“Boreout” is a highly contagious “virus” that spreads quickly and can infect the entire workplace, Klaus indicated.

She said “boreout” definitely decreases productivity and a company’s bottom line.

At this time in their lives, they are less encumbered by family responsibilities and so they are willing to take risks to change jobs, change cities, and change countries, Klaus also noted.

“Gallup estimated that low engagement is costing the global economy nearly $9 trillion,” Klaus added.

Communication is essential to combat “boreout,” job experts noted.

“When employees work toward a new goal and are given the tools to succeed, they can find renewed energy and excitement for their jobs.”

“Managers can turn things around and create a more engaging work atmosphere for the employee with open and transparent communication,” said Niki Jorgensen, managing director, client implementation with Insperity, who is based in Denver, Colorado.

Managers should address any concerns and work with the employee to determine a solution, she said.

“Solutions could be as simple as [giving] additional responsibility, creating a new reporting structure, or setting [new] goals for career development,” said Jorgensen.

“When employees work toward a new goal and are given the tools to succeed, they can find renewed energy and excitement for their jobs.”

Klaus of Santa Fe shared advice for employees who recognize that “boreout” is all too familiar to them and understand they have a role to play in changing things.

“Seek the advice of mentors, career counselors, or the human resources department if you think boreout is seriously affecting either your physical or mental health,” Klaus also said.

Also, she said, recognize that “it may be time to change your career path toward something healthier for you.”

When managers and leadership have regular check-ins with employees, they can learn how to support teams and keep them engaged, Jorgensen indicated.

“Through regular communication, managers can quickly identify any issues before they become a major hurdle for their team and the company,” she said.

Technology

Amazon CEO Jassy says AI will lead to ‘fewer people doing some of the jobs’ that get automated

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Amazon CEO Jassy says AI will lead to 'fewer people doing some of the jobs' that get automated

AI will change the workforce, says Amazon CEO Andy Jassy

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the rapid rollout of generative artificial intelligence means the company will one day require fewer employees to do some of the work that computers can handle.

“Like with every technical transformation, there will be fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate,” Jassy told CNBC’s Jim Cramer in an interview on Monday. “But there’s going to be other jobs.”

Even as AI eliminates the need for some roles, Amazon will continue to hire more employees in AI, robotics and elsewhere, Jassy said.

Earlier this month, Jassy admitted that he expects the company’s workforce to decline in the next few years as Amazon embraces generative AI and AI-powered software agents. He told staffers in a memo that it will be “hard to know exactly where this nets out over time” but that the corporate workforce will shrink as Amazon wrings more efficiencies out of the technology.

It’s a message that’s making its way across the tech sector. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff last week claimed AI is doing 30% to 50% of the work at his software vendor. Other companies such as Shopify and Microsoft have urged employees to adopt the technology in their daily work. The CEO of Klarna said in May that the online lender has managed to shrink its headcount by about 40%, in part due to investments in AI and natural attrition in its workforce.

Jassy said on Monday that AI will free employees from “rote work” and “make all our jobs more interesting,” while enabling staffers to invent better services more quickly than before.

Amazon and other tech companies have also been shrinking their workforces through rolling layoffs over the past several years. Amazon has cut more than 27,000 jobs since the start of 2022, and it’s announced smaller, more targeted layoffs in its retail and devices units in recent months.

Amazon shares are flat so far this year, underperforming the Nasdaq, which has gained 5.5%. The stock is about 10% below its record reached in February, while fellow megacaps Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia are all trading at or very near record highs.

WATCH: Jassy says robots that will eventually do delivery and transportation

Over time we will have robots that will do delivery and transportation, says Amazon CEO Andy Jassy

Politics

PM faces threat of major rebellion during key vote today

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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PM faces threat of major rebellion during key vote today

Sir Keir Starmer continues to face the threat of a major rebellion during a key vote on welfare reforms later – despite making last-minute concessions to disgruntled Labour MPs.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed that all existing claimants of the personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit, will be protected from changes to eligibility.

The combined value of the standard Universal Credit allowance and the health top-up will rise “at least in line with inflation” every year of this parliament.

And an additional £300m for employment support for sick and disabled people in 2026 has been announced, which will rise every year after.

Ms Kendall has also promised that a consultation into PIP – “co-produced” with disabled people – will be published next autumn.

She said the U-turn on welfare cuts will cost taxpayers about £2.5bn by 2030 – less than half the £4.8bn the government had expected to save with its initial proposals.

Modelling by Ms Kendall’s own department, released yesterday, suggested the proposals would push 150,000 more people into poverty by 2030, down from the 250,000 estimated under the original plan.

But after announcing the U-turns, Labour MPs were still publicly saying they could not back the plans as they do not go far enough to allay their concerns.

Disabilities minister Stephen Timms would not say he was “confident” the proposals would pass the Commons when asked on Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge.

“We’ve got a very strong package, I certainly hope it passes,” he replied.

A total of 86 charities united yesterday to call on MPs to reject the reforms, saying they will harm disabled people and calling it “a political choice”.

The likes of Oxfam, Child Action Poverty Group, Mind and Shelter said the bill has been brought to a vote without consulting disabled people and without any assessment “of its impact on health and employment outcomes”.

When asked to name “a single” disability organisation in favour of the reforms, Ms Kendall declined to do so.

Several Labour MPs indicated they would still vote against the changes, leaving the government in the dark over how big a rebellion it still may face.

Ms Kendall tried to allay their fears, telling MPs: “I believe we have a fair package, a package that protects existing claimants because they’ve come to rely on that support.”

Richard Burgon presented a petition to parliament yesterday evening against the cuts, signed by more than 77,000 people.

Several Labour MPs questioned why the vote was going ahead before the review into PIP is published – including Rachael Maskell, who said she could not “countenance sick and disabled people being denied support” and added: “It is a matter of conscience.”

Connor Naismith said the concessions “undoubtedly improve efforts to secure welfare reform which is fair”, but added: “Unfortunately, I do not believe these concessions yet go far enough.”

Nadia Whittome accused the government of “ignoring” disabled people and urged ministers to go “back to the drawing board”.

Ian Byrne told the Commons he will vote against the “cruel cuts” to disability benefits because the “so-called concessions go nowhere near far enough”.

The vote will take place this evening, with coverage on Sky News’ Politics Hub live blog and on TV.

World

Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be meeting Donald Trump next Monday, according to US officials.

The visit on 7 July comes after Mr Trump suggested it was possible a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached within a week.

On Sunday, he wrote on social media: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

At least 60 people killed across Gaza on Monday, in what turned out to be some of the heaviest attacks in weeks.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 56,500 people have been killed in the 20-month war.

The visit by Mr Netanyahu to Washington has not been formally announced and the officials who said it would be going ahead spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official in Washington also confirmed the meeting next Monday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was in constant communication with the Israeli government.

She said Mr Trump viewed ending the war in Gaza and returning remaining hostages held by Hamas as a top priority.

The war in Gaza broke out in retaliation for Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw a further 250 taken hostage.

An eight-week ceasefire was reached in the final days of Joe Biden’s US presidency, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps.

Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled over whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire.