HR / People·74·Added 2026-08-10

Managed out

A strategic HR framework designed to assist an employee in realizing that their personal career aspirations lie entirely outside of the organization.

What they actually mean

We are going to make your life sufficiently miserable until you resign of your own accord.

Heard in the wild

"After reviewing his performance, we feel Julian would be best served by being managed out over the next quarter."

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Core hours

A theoretically flexible working window during which employees must be contactable, which inexplicably expands to cover their entire waking lives.

"Our core hours are ten to four, but most of the team finds it easier to stay until seven."

Translation

"If you leave at 4:00 PM, people will assume you have resigned."

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To performance manage

The bureaucratic process of meticulously documenting an employee’s minor slip-ups to ensure the company is legally bulletproof when they are finally shown the door.

We've decided it's time to performance manage Gerald to help him realign with our expectations.

Translation

We are currently building a paper trail so we can fire you without being sued.

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Quiet firing

The strategic withdrawal of career development, feedback, and interesting assignments in the hope that an employee will eventually take the hint and resign.

We’ve decided to help Dave transition naturally by moving his desk to the basement and removing him from the Friday lunch order.

Translation

We lack the courage to dismiss you, so we are going to ignore you until you leave.

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