© Shutterstock

Defining "quiet quitting" -

"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.”

© Shutterstock

Productivity vs. value -

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.

© Shutterstock

The status quo - Driving ourselves to mental and physical exhaustion at work has been the standard experience for many, while companies capitalize on this culture without offering any extra compensation.

© Shutterstock

A mindset change... -

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.

© Shutterstock

...or more? -

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.

© Shutterstock

Work-life balance -

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.

© Shutterstock

Emotional disengagement -

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.

© Shutterstock

Apathetic or empowering? -

This can be conducive to healthier stress management, but many are worried that this trend is encouraging people to “check out” at work.

© Shutterstock 

Not everyone has options - Many of the voices speaking out about quiet quitting are those of extremely disillusioned, underpaid employees working in toxic environments. The reality is that a huge number of people dislike their jobs and are simply trying to get the bills paid.

© Shutterstock

Making the best of a bad situation? - For them, making their job more pleasant might not be possible. As such, disengaging from their work and doing the bare minimum to get by is the only way they can improve their quality of life there.

© Shutterstock

There's no simple definition -

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?

© Shutterstock

The pandemic - The COVID-19 pandemic saw major changes in workplace culture. The switch to working remotely, as well as seeing how their companies handled the crisis and failed to prioritize employee welfare, caused many to reevaluate their careers and their approach to work.

© Shutterstock

Existential crisis - The pandemic brought forth a wave of existential reflection. Many of us faced the fear of death for the first time, while stuck at home with very little to distract us from certain harsh realities.

© iStock

The Great Resignation -

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.

© Shutterstock

Seeking health and happiness - Anthony Klotz, a professor of management who is credited with predicting the Great Resignation, explained that “people are reinventing themselves in a way that the time and energy they put into their days pays them back at a higher rate, psychologically speaking, than it did in their prior job or whatever they were doing before the pandemic.”

© Shutterstock

Some startling statistics -

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.

© Shutterstock

Enter quiet quitting -

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.

© Shutterstock

Hitting the mainstream -

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.

© Shutterstock

Widespread employee dissatisfaction -

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.

© Shutterstock

Decreasing pay -

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?

© Shutterstock

Gen Z attitudes -

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.

© Shutterstock

More options and higher standards -

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?

© Shutterstock

Anti-hustle 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.

© Shutterstock

An unfair label -

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.

© Shutterstock

What are workers looking for? -

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.

© Shutterstock

What can employers do? -

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.

© Shutterstock

Set boundaries - Employers should make sure there are boundaries in place to protect the work-life balance of employees. This might mean that managers can no longer contact employees outside of working hours or ask them to stay late without prior warning.

© Shutterstock

Realistic expectations -

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.

© Shutterstock

Prioritize mental health -

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)

See also: What is toxic productivity? Here are the signs

© Shutterstock