Quiet Quitting Isn't What You Think It Is

The introduction of The Great Resignation & “Quiet Quitting” have shown us a swift move away from the 2010’s hustle-culture & work grind – trends that placed emphasis and value on over-performing and consistently going above and beyond in the workplace. These actions were framed as aiding employees in their ability to climb the corporate ladder faster and increase their income. But, with 75% of workers stating that they have experienced burnout (FlexJobs) and 36% of employees saying their organization isn’t doing anything to help with employee burnout (Eagle Hill Consulting), it’s no wonder employees of all ages (and levels) are adopting the method of “Quiet Quitting” in their day-to-day. 

Although the name of the game may spark some alarm, “Quiet Quitting” isn’t what it may suggest. What really lies beneath the surface of this buzzword is boundary setting to avoid burnout – the act of quitting does not come into play here. 

These boundaries involve, but aren’t limited to, clocking in and out at 9AM & 5PM on the dot, only working on assigned daily tasks, not working overtime, and asking to be compensated fairly for any tasks or projects that go above and beyond the scope of regular work (especially if the asks come frequently). Setting these “rules to work by” for employees helps them avoid the all-too-common symptoms of burnout and allows them to live a life beyond their workplace, placing emphasis on the coveted work-life-balance. Remember, this isn’t a call for employees to start slacking off at work, but simply a call for a more balanced routine.

Although burnout is a large factor for employees moving towards the “Quiet Quitting” trend, there’s more to it than that. Another key factor is monetary compensation (ie. wages!). While employees have been receiving raises – albeit not always the amount they deserve, hello, Gender Pay Gap! – these increases in income aren’t keeping up with the cost of living and the ever skyrocketing inflation, causing employees to “act their wage”.

It seems that employees are also tired of not being provided with clear responsibilities or an idea of what success in their role looks like. Companies will outline the required tasks and responsibilities of their new hires in the interview process, but once that new hire is actually performing the role, they discover a harsh reality that late hours, additional tasks, and disorganization within the business are common occurrences. When these expectations become a daily thing, the job is practically begging for employees to become burnt out.

At the end of the day, Quiet Quitting doesn’t mean employees are bad at their jobs or that they’re slacking, it just means they’re not as emotionally invested as they used to be. Work is no longer the most important thing in their lives. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it is important for those companies who notice their employees Quiet Quitting to ask themselves, “why?”.  There may be an underlying issue that has been glossed over and needs to be addressed in order to preserve company culture and overall employee happiness and wellness.