Behind the promotion ceiling: a parallel mediation model linking career plateau and quiet quitting

Purpose One of the emergent issues in human resource management and career management literature is career plateau. A hierarchical career plateau is faced by employees when they feel that their current position is not progressive, and they feel themselves immovable in the position. The current study aims to examine the associations between hierarchical career plateau and quiet quitting by using career self-determination theory (CSDT). The study also investigated the potential mediating influence of felt obligation and meaningfulness on the association between career plateau and quiet quitting. Design/methodology/approach The current research employed a parallel mediation model. A time-lagged survey was devised, and the data were collected from a sample of faculty members in public and private sector higher educational institutions through multistage cluster sampling, and were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The results of path analysis demonstrated a positive link between hierarchical career plateau and quiet quitting. Moreover, it was found that felt obligation and meaningfulness acted as parallel mediators. Originality/value Unlike the more evident outcomes of hierarchical career plateau, the current study has highlighted the role of quiet quitting, which is a pervasive yet understudied phenomenon. Moreover, this research is based on its theoretically grounded in CSDT, an adaptation of self-determination theory in the specific context of employees' careers.