Ghosting epidemic

The Corporate Ghosting Epidemic: When Companies Go Silent After Squeezing You Dry

You know the feeling. You’ve just wrapped up a massive project, hit every ridiculous deadline they threw at you, worked late, sacrificed weekends, and maybe even bailed your manager out of yet another crisis. You sit back for a moment thinking, “Maybe now I’ll get some recognition.”

But instead of a thank-you, you get… silence.

No message. No feedback. No acknowledgement. Not even a Slack emoji. Just quiet indifference, like nothing happened. Like you don’t exist.


Welcome to Corporate Ghosting

You hear a lot about ghosting in dating — but no one talks about how often it happens at work.

Corporate ghosting is when the same people who piled on the pressure suddenly vanish the second you ask for help, clarity, or (heaven forbid) recognition. They were right there when they needed something from you. But now? You’re on read.

They’ll ghost you after:

  • You raise a serious concern
  • You ask for support
  • You mention burnout
  • You request feedback
  • You inquire about that promotion they dangled three months ago

The worst part? They’re still “active” — in meetings, in group chats, on LinkedIn pretending they’re fostering transparency and culture. But when it comes to you? Complete radio silence.


You’re Not Invisible — They Just Got What They Wanted

Let’s be clear. They didn’t forget about you. They’re not “too busy.” They’re avoiding you.

Why? Because they already got what they needed. You delivered. You solved the problem. You made them look good. Now that they don’t need you in crisis mode anymore, they’re on to their next source of output.

You’re no longer useful — so they disappear.

And the more effort you put in, the more likely this happens. Because in many workplaces, the reward for being reliable is being taken for granted.


This Happens During Hiring Too

Ghosting isn’t just for employees. If you’ve ever gone through five rounds of interviews, built a presentation, shared your strategy, maybe even whiteboarded in front of a panel — and then heard nothing — you’ve already lived the experience.

They drained your time, your energy, your ideas — and once they had what they wanted, they vanished. No rejection. No update. Just silence.

Because in corporate life, you’re only a priority when you’re needed.


The Moral: Set Boundaries. Recognise the Pattern. Walk When You’re Ready.

If you’re being ghosted after giving your all, don’t internalise it. This isn’t about your value. It’s about how broken the system is.

These companies don’t build culture. They build pipelines — and once your output slows or your needs increase, you’re moved to the back of the queue.

So the next time you start to feel that familiar silence creeping in, ask yourself:

  • Am I being respected or used?
  • Is this silence telling me something louder than words ever could?
  • Do I need to speak up, or do I need to step away?

Because if a company ghosts you after everything you’ve given, they never deserved you in the first place.