Kuala Lampur, Oct. 1 -- A recent Forbes article introduced a term many of us might not have heard before: "quiet covering." But while the phrase may be new, the behaviour it describes is all too familiar, especially for Gen Z professionals entering the workforce.

Unlike quiet quitting or quiet cracking, which involve disengagement or emotional strain, quiet covering is about hiding. It's when employees suppress parts of their identity - how they dress, speak, think, or express themselves - in order to conform to workplace norms. It's not about doing less work. It's about showing up while shrinking who you are.

For Gen Z, a generation raised on authenticity, values alignment, and self-expression, this can be particularly painful. And yet...