US workers faced bait-and-switch tactics while being hired for a job, survey says

More than half (53%) of U.S. workers said they faced bait-and-switch tactics while being hired, according to a new survey from the hiring platform Greenhouse.

Tessa White, a career navigation expert at The Job Doctor, said bait-and-switch is exactly what it sounds like.

“You were hired for a particular job and then when you start, the company adds responsibilities or changes your job,” White said.

Although White said many companies don’t use bait-and-switch tactics on purpose, more incidents are occurring because of high turnover.

“So companies will often say, ‘What can this person do besides what we interviewed them for, and how can we combine these two jobs?’” White said.

Julie Bauke, a career strategist, said another reason for the increase in bait-and-switch tactics is the prevalence of remote work.

“Hybrid work is told in the interview, that that would be a part of their employment situation, and then when someone starts or sometime after they start it’s pulled away,” Bauke said.

This is why Julie Smith, an HR specialist, recommends that everything be put in writing.

“If they have an understanding of what’s expected and it’s not in writing in the offer letter, then a conversation needs to happen,” Smith said.

If a bait-and-switch does occur, White suggests knowing how to address it with your employer.

“While I’m a team player and I want to help in whatever way I can, I’d really like to get back to the job I was hired to do. What would it take, and can we put a timeline together to make that happen?” White said.