Visier: 84% of US employees have ghosted an employer

People often talk about ghosting in relation to dating and romantic relationships. However, given the definition of ghosting is “abruptly ending communication with someone without explanation” it can also happen in the workplace.

In fact, research by data and analytics company Visier found that 76% of UK and 84% of US workers have ghosted an employer or prospective employer in the last 18 months.

This phenomenon accelerates with seniority. 95% of UK C-Suite have ghosted, compared to 84% mid-level works and 48% at entry-level. In the US, 91% of directors, a whopping 99% of senior vice-presidents, and 96% of C-Suite workers have ghosted, compared to 89% of desk workers and 79% of frontline workers.

Interestingly, 68% admitted they are worried about the impact of ghosting on their future career, but it clearly did not stop them from doing it at work.

61% said they were perfectly comfortable with ghosting, although 34% admitted they would be angrier if a current or potential employer ghosted them than if they were stood up on a date. 59% of UK employees said they experienced ghosting by a current or prospective employer.

Ghosting accelerates in the pandemic

Visier’s research shows that ghosting has been worsened by the pandemic and the impact it has had on de-personalizing the world of work.

46% of UK workers said they were more likely to ghost because they are hybrid working, while 45% said it was because of the less personal recruitment process.

In the US, the ‘Great Resignation’ had a major role to play. 55% said they ghosted because there are lots of available jobs, so they are more likely to ghost now than before the pandemic.

Therefore, Visier recommends that companies dial-up their interview process and improve candidate experience. This is because 25% of UK workers ghosted because of a negative first impression.

They also must make sure their job adverts are transparent, particularly around pay. 24% of UK employees ghosted because of an inaccurate job description and the same number did so because the salary was too low.

Talking about the findings, Visier vice-president for EMEA Daniel Mason commented: “As recruitment teams continue to rethink their hiring strategies in line with the ‘Great Resignation’ now is the time to also implement measures that can reduce the fallout of job seeker ghosting.

“Embedding people data into every stage of the recruitment and employee engagement process is one way that recruitment teams can interest potential candidates and retain them.“Embedding people data into every stage of the recruitment and employee engagement process is one way that recruitment teams can interest potential candidates and retain them.

“For example, by using data to highlight at which stage a job seeker is most likely to leave the recruitment process, more emphasis can be placed on improving the overall experience based on what the data is telling us prospective employers expect”.