Is your career "rusting out"? Here's what that means, and how to spot it.

Workplace experts are highlighting a growing issue distinct from burnout, termed "rusting out." This phenomenon describes employees who languish in their jobs, becoming functionally less productive because they are not sufficiently challenged or utilized.

“

We see that as an early indicator to rust out, when people are not feeling challenged enough.

A survey by scheduling software provider Deputy found that about 15% of hourly workers feel merely "OK" about their jobs. Star Levandowski, senior vice president of business and people operations at Deputy, described this as an early indicator of rusting out, suggesting it can lead to lackluster performance.

“

If you feel like you're not being used to the best of your abilities, you feel like you're just hanging out, or rusting out.

Levandowski explained that rusting out is akin to a tool left unused, becoming rusty over time. "If you feel like you're not being used to the best of your abilities, you feel like you're just hanging out, or rusting out," she said. This contrasts with burnout, characterized by mental and physical exhaustion from prolonged overwork.

“

With burnout, you see people become really disengaged, and the result becomes quite obvious.

While burned-out employees often become disengaged visibly, those rusting out may still perform their duties but with a fading sense of purpose. Fatigue can set in if a manager shows little interest in an employee's development. Levandowski noted, "They still come in and do the work. But it's a function of people not being stretched enough, feeling challenged or heard." This underutilization ultimately affects business performance.

“

They still come in and do the work. But it's a function of people not being stretched enough, feeling challenged or heard.