More Than Half of U.S. Workers Say They’ve Been Gaslit at Work

A new survey of U.S. workers shows that a majority have felt misled or outright lied to by their employers or prospective employers during recruiting processes.

The Workplace Gaslighting Report, from resume-building website ResumeBuilder.com, showed that, among 1,000 workers surveyed, 53% said they have experienced workplace gaslighting. Workers report that these experiences can affect their trust, confidence, and willingness to speak up, with some ultimately searching for another job or leaving their position.

Key Findings

A workplace reality: 53% of workers say they have experienced workplace gaslighting.
Gaslighting is gaining ground: 59% believe workplace gaslighting is more common than it was five years ago.
Trust takes a hit: 43% became more cautious about trusting people at work.
Silence and self-doubt can ensue: 20% became less likely to speak up, and 19% lost confidence in their work.
Some workers feel pushed out: 15% started looking for another job, and 8% quit.
Colleagues are at the center: 36% say a coworker was most often involved in their experiences, followed by direct managers at 18%.

More Than Half of Workers Say They Have Been Gaslit

Workplace gaslighting can take different forms, from denying what was said to disputing how events unfolded. More than half of workers (53%) say they have experienced behaviors they associate with workplace gaslighting.

Among those experiences, the most common include:

42% say someone denied something they previously said.
36% say someone insisted events happened differently.
33% say they were blamed for something they did not do.
23% say someone gave a false account of what happened.
20% say their concerns were dismissed as a personality or attitude problem.
18% say someone claimed they agreed to something they did not.

“I Never Said That” Is the Most Common Gaslighting Phrase

Gaslighting often shows up in the responses workers hear when they raise concerns or disagree about what happened. 64% say they have had a dismissive or reality-denying phrase directed at them at work.

The phrases workers hear most often are:

28% — “I never said that.”
23% — “That never happened.”
22% — “You’re overreacting.”
22% — “You’re taking it personally.”
21% — “You’re remembering it wrong.”
15% — “You’re too sensitive.”

“When employees repeatedly feel that their experiences are being dismissed or denied, it can be difficult to maintain trust in the people around them,” says Stacie Haller, ResumeBuilder.com’s Chief Career Advisor. “Over time, employees may become more guarded and less willing to speak openly when they no longer feel that their concerns are being taken seriously.”

Coworkers Are the Most Commonly Identified Gaslighters

Gaslighting can come from different people across an organization, from colleagues to managers and customers. Coworkers are the group employees point to most often, at 36%.

Direct managers follow at 18%, while customers/clients and senior leaders each account for 6%. Another 3% say an HR representative was most often involved.

Gaslighting Is Damaging Trust and Silencing Workers

The effects of workplace gaslighting can have a lasting effect, shaping how employees communicate, who they trust, and how they feel about their work.

43% say they have become more cautious about trusting people at work, while 22% say they lost trust in their manager. Other consequences include:

25% began documenting conversations more carefully.
20% became less likely to speak up.
19% began second-guessing themselves more often.
19% lost confidence in their work.
16% became less engaged.
15% started looking for another job.
8% quit their job.

A Growing Concern

Workers also believe workplace gaslighting has become more prevalent in recent years. Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) say it is more common than it was five years ago, with 27% calling it much more common and 32% saying it is somewhat more common. Meanwhile, 35% believe its prevalence has stayed about the same, and 6% say it has become less common.

“If gaslighting becomes more common in a given work environment, it can undermine trust and become a retention issue,” says Haller. “Employees may ultimately feel that moving on is better than staying in an environment where they no longer feel comfortable or supported.” For a comprehensive look at the Workplace Gaslighting Report, access the full study at www.resumebuilder.com/workplace-gaslighting/.