In sharp contrast to the “Great Resignation,”many workers have decided to stay in their current roles. The term job hugging is gaining popularity, and some experts are calling this era the “Great Stay.” Professionals are finding themselves clinging to a job not because it’s fulfilling or challenging, but because it’s familiar. Like a childhood teddy bear, your job becomes a source of comfort, even when it no longer serves your growth.
What Is Job Hugging?
Job hugging is the act of staying in a role or company out of emotional attachment, fear of change, or perceived security, despite knowing deep down that it’s time to move on. It’s not loyalty. It’s inertia disguised as stability.
The Hidden Costs of Staying Too Long
While job hugging might feel safe, it can quietly sabotage your career development. Staying can stall your skill growth and development. Every year spent in a role that doesn’t challenge you is a year not spent exploring new industries, roles, or passions. Holding on too long can lead to emotional fatigue from unfulfilling work, similar to burnout. While burnout is aligned with being overworked, job hugging is working without purpose.
Why We Hug Jobs
We are wired for safety. The fear of rejection, financial instability, or starting over can keep us tethered to roles that no longer align with our goals. When you add in a supportive team or a decent salary, the emotional glue gets stronger.
Growth also requires discomfort. The same way muscles tear before they strengthen, careers often need a shake-up to evolve.
Breaking the Hug: How to Reclaim Your Career
If you suspect you’re job hugging, here’s how to gently loosen your grip:
1. Audit Your Fulfillment: Ask yourself: Am I growing, learning, and excited about my work? If not, why am I still here?
2. Explore Without Committing: Attend industry events, take online courses, or connect with professionals in other fields. Curiosity is the antidote to stagnation.
3. Set a Timeline: Give yourself a deadline to make a change. Try asking for new responsibilities, switching teams, or updating your LinkedIn.
4. Reframe the Fear: Instead of fearing change, fear regret. What will you wish you had done five years from now? Ask yourself: Am I staying for the right reasons or just because it feels safer than the unknown?
Job hugging isn’t a failure, it’s a phase. But like all phases, it’s meant to be temporary. Your career is a living, breathing journey, and it deserves momentum. So if you’re holding on to a job that no longer fits, maybe it’s time to let go and reach for something that does.
Mary V. Davids is an executive career and leadership development strategist and owner of D&M Consulting Services, LLC. For more career tips and advice visit www.slaytheworkplace.com and follow /CoachMaryD on Facebook, @MVDavids on Instagram, and @careerchic on TikTok.