Shhh....what's quiet quitting all about?
Quiet quitting is a trend that’s been getting a lot of attention on social media lately, especially in relation to the workplace. We’ve done some digging around to suss out what it’s all about…
Ok, so what is quiet quitting?
Don’t be thrown off by the name, quiet quitting has absolutely nothing to do with quitting your job.
It’s actually about how you apply yourself to your work. Employees who are quiet quitters do exactly what’s in their job description and nothing more. So that’s no:
- Working any extra hours
- Checking or responding to emails outside of work
- Taking calls outside of work
- Completing tasks that don’t apply to their job
- Volunteering to do extra work
- Skipping lunch breaks
In short, you show up and do what you’re expected to do in line with your JD. And that’s it.
Exploring the rise of quiet quitting
The quiet quitting phenomenon has attracted split opinion, and understandably so. For some people, the concept of going above and beyond at work to progress and achieve is all they’ve ever known. And they’re happy with it too.
But for others, quiet quitting is a way of making sure they don’t put in lots of extra effort, only to find it goes unnoticed. It’s an outlook that’s reportedly favoured by younger workers and has grown in momentum since the pandemic which, among many other things, prompted people to take stock of their life on so many different levels.
Interestingly, research has shown that quiet quitting appears to be more widespread in the US. A report produced by global analytics and advice firm, Gallup, revealed that quiet quitters make up at least half of the US workforce. The same research also found that just 9% of UK workers felt enthused by their work and workplace last year.
According to news reports, quiet quitting is a way for people to protect themselves from burning out by ‘acting their wage.’ Meanwhile, this viral TikTok video from American TikToker, @zaidlepplin, has been linked to fuelling the quiet quitting trend by sharing this message:
‘Work is not your life. Your worth as a person is not defined by your productive output.’
Here’s a snapshot of some of the responses the video has triggered so far:
‘This works best if you can tolerate your job - if you’re miserable, get outta there! Your peace of mind comes first.’
‘Love this. I realised years ago in corporate that going above and beyond doesn't get you any further or happier.’
‘I quiet quit six months ago, and guess what, same pay. Same recognition, same everything, but less stress.’
‘I quiet quit like a month ago. Now I’m taking courses to better myself and find something new to grab my attention and interest.’
Is quiet quitting good or bad?
Well, it depends on who you speak to and which camp they’re in – quiet quitters or non-quiet quitters.
Some people argue that if you adopt the quiet quitting culture, you may struggle to succeed at work. You could miss out on promotions and wage rise opportunities to employees, who are focused on giving more in an effort to get ahead.
On the other hand, you could be of the mindset that you don’t mind just doing your job because it means less hassle and stress and helps you keep your work-life balance in check.
It really does come down to personal opinion. But one thing we would say is, if you’re quiet quitting because you’re not happy at work and don’t feel inspired to work harder, have a chat with us. It may be that you need a new challenge or job that enables you to put your skills and experience to full use.
Now for another pandemic-related trend, hybrid working. Have a read of this article, ‘Are hybrid workers happiest?’
Get in touch with us today, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us on 01789 700021 or by completing this short online form.