Quiet firing, also referred to as a constructive discharge, exists when an employer/manager attempts to push an older employee out by making his or her employment situation so intolerable that the employee is forced to resign. Many of the common tactics are illegal. They are always unethical. Tactics may include: (1) Expressing constant unfair criticism; (2) Withholding cost of living raises and earned promotions; (3) Reducing responsibilities; (4) Withholding important training; (5) Loading the employee with an excessive amount of work; (6) Isolation, including being left out of meetings, discussions, group lunches and emails; (7) Reduction of overtime opportunities to earn more money; (8) Requiring overtime without reasonable notice; (9) Unjustified poor performance appraisals; (10) Setting unrealistic goals for the employee; and (11) Calling them names such as grandpa, (12) Generally creating a severely toxic environment.

Employers/managers often prefer quiet firing to avoid severance pay, increases in unemployment insurance costs, wrongful termination claims/lawsuits, retaliation claims/lawsuits, discrimination claims/lawsuits, EEOC complaints, and the general unpleasantness of having to terminate someone's employment. They prefer to have the person quit if they can arrange It. Even though they may be violating the law, quiet firing happens every day.

Remember: Success is the best revenge for being treated unfairly.