The rise of 'quiet cracking' in South African workplaces

FROM BURNOUT TO BLOWOUT

- SARENE KLOREN

WE'VE all had those weeks at work where we feel a bit “off” like we’re treading through sinking sand just to answer emails or make it to meetings.

But when that sense of dread, disconnection or exhaustion quietly lingers, it might be more than just a rough patch.

You could be experiencing what’s now being called “quiet cracking” — the slow emotional unravelling that often goes unnoticed until it becomes too overwhelming to ignore.

For many South African workers navigating tight budgets, heavy workloads and limited career growth, the struggle is all too real.