Dear Readers: How are you handling unhappiness at work?

Is your job satisfaction at an all-time low? Sounds like you’re not in this camp alone. A consistent, nagging feeling of unhappiness at work that can result in decrease productivity, weaker performance and the urge to quit is better known as “quiet cracking,” as coined by Talent LMS. Their recent data shows that one in five workers are in a frequent or constant state of quiet cracking and more than half of workers have experienced it.

Ultimately, this speaks volumes about your job satisfaction. Similarly, recent workplace trends of quiet quitting, essentially pushing back on your workload to a minimum while you’re mentally checked out, fell under this umbrella too.

Peter Duris, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kickresume, told Human Resources Director magazine, “Quiet cracking may be caused by managers not providing enough support and recognition, leading employees to feel undervalued. With no progression in sight and a lack of purpose, employees may be asking themselves what the point of their role is. This often leads to dissatisfaction and a loss in motivation.”

There are several things you can do to better manage it. Ask yourself if it’s the job and/or employer that doesn’t have a chance of improving. Even if the situation changes (more on this in a second), are you still not feeling it? Immediately start looking for a new job. That can hopefully spark your career in a better direction.

Talk to your boss to set new achievable, quantifiable goals. Identify skills you want to learn and ask for training so you can upskill. Volunteer for projects in your department or in other departments. Get reinvigorated with your role and expansion. Ask your boss for feedback. Bosses should continually provide feedback, especially positive feedback, but if they don’t automatically do it, ask your boss for more support.

Low morale is contagious, so it’s important to keep your head above the fray. Refrain from participating in conversations among colleagues with a negative spin, as these interactions can potentially bring you down even further. Identify the root of your dissatisfaction and unhappiness, which, in turn, lower your productivity, so you can get specific about action items. Even if your current position does improve, these granular items that you prioritized can help fuel your next job search.

Vicki Salemi is a career expert for Monster, an author, a speaker and consultant, TV commentator and former corporate recruiter. For more information, visit www.vickisalemi.com and follow her on Instagram @vickisalemi. Send your questions to hello@vickisalemi.com./Tribune News Service