The gap between those who can access and use digital technology and those who can't
As the workload for company goals is dispersed down the chain, it often becomes unbalanced and unrealistic. Employers need to listen to their teams and make changes if this is the case.
This can look like closing your laptop at 5 pm, doing only the tasks that are assigned to you, and spending more time with your family.
Workers practicing quiet quitting (or simply quitting) are looking for jobs where they feel fairly compensated, where they are respected as whole individuals who have lives outside of work, and where their well-being is valued.
"Quiet quitting" is more of an umbrella term that has both positive and negative connotations. A TikTok user who caused the topic to go viral described it this way: “You’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond. You are still performing your duties, but you are no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be our life.”
There are many different ways to approach quiet quitting depending on what kind of job you have and what your particular issues with your working life are. What’s more, the behaviors and attitudes described here are hardly new. So, why is it only now being given a name and gaining recognition in popular culture?
It is no longer accepted that skipping lunch, working unpaid overtime, and never saying no are all just part of being a good employee. Workers are becoming more educated and more empowered.
For some taking this approach, quiet quitting is more of a mindset shift than anything else. It might involve reevaluating your priorities and recognizing that your worth is not tied to your output, allowing you to feel less stressed at work.
A 2021 survey from Gallup revealed that only 36% of employees felt engaged with their jobs. Another survey from Asana in 2022 found that seven out of 10 employees had experienced burnout within the last year.
While these statistics reflect a huge shift in the way millions of people see their careers, the fact is that not everyone has the option to leave their job or accept a lower wage. This is often where quiet quitting comes in.
The best way for companies to prevent disengagement is to improve the employee experience. They should start by speaking to their employees to ask for their feedback and find out what they need to feel more appreciated and happy at work.
Older generations may look at Gen Z as entitled, but the reality is that if you don’t need to grind it out getting underpaid at a job you hate, then why would you?
This approach to quiet quitting acknowledges that we live and work in a society where we have been trained to think that we are less valuable as people if we are less productive.
Quiet quitting is a bit of a misnomer because many advocates argue that all it involves is doing the job you’re paid to do. The fact that it has been given such a name and is being linked to apathy and lack of motivation merely reinforces the fact that employees are expected to go above and beyond without appreciation or reward.
For others, it might involve taking actions to reduce time spent doing unpaid work outside of normal hours, thinking twice before volunteering for a new responsibility, and setting healthier boundaries with management.
While these issues aren’t new, the pandemic brought them into the spotlight, as did Gen Z’s entry into the workforce. They are the generation most educated about mental health, and the least willing to settle.
Quiet quitting is likely to involve a certain amount of emotional disengagement. If we want to achieve lower stress levels, we naturally need to create a little distance between ourselves and the rises and falls of the business.
This can be conducive to healthier stress management, but many are worried that this trend is encouraging people to “check out” at work.
The result was that millions of people began quitting their jobs, a phenomenon dubbed the Great Resignation. In the US in 2021, more than four million people quit their jobs each month. The top three reasons cited in a large-scale survey were low pay, no opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected at work.
Half of the employees surveyed in a US poll in the fall of 2021 said they intended to make career changes as a result of the pandemic. Another survey found that 22% of the workforce changed jobs during the pandemic. Of those who changed, a third said they accepted less money for a better work-life balance.
As mentioned, the term first hit the mainstream with a viral TikTok video, in July 2022. The topic quickly reached millions of people. Articles were written in The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many more publications, helping to start a wide-reaching conversation about the epidemic of employee dissatisfaction.
Add to this the fact that people are earning less due to inflation. In July 2022, the rate of inflation was at 8-9%, while the average pay increase was only 3.4%. Indeed, why should an employee continue to work themselves to the bone when their financial security is decreasing?
Helping employees to manage stress and prioritize their mental well-being should be standard practice. This could be done by giving them more leeway during difficult periods, allowing flexibility for them to have therapy appointments during work hours, or just having informal sit-downs to check in.
Sources: (NPR) (TechTarget) (CNBC) (CNN)
To find out more about how and why quiet quitting became the new lifestyle trend, click through this gallery.
"Quiet quitting" and the decline of hustle culture
A solution to workplace burnout?
LIFESTYLE Career
The term "quiet quitting" started bouncing around the Internet in 2022 thanks to a viral TikTok video on the subject. Quiet quitting describes a new attitude to work that favors simply doing what you need to do and getting out of there as soon as you can. It goes against the hustle culture that puts career advancement and financial gain above all else, pushing us to work extra hours, take on extra tasks, and go above and beyond to prove ourselves. This approach led many to burnout and discontentment with the lack of compensation for their efforts. While many won’t or can’t quit the jobs they're dissatisfied with, they can consciously choose to stop taking on more than they’re paid to do, focusing instead on their work-life balance.
To find out more about how and why quiet quitting became the new lifestyle trend, click through this gallery.