What is quiet quitting work? Is this really a brand new phenomenon taking the internet by storm, or has it been around for ages but no one wanted to openly talk about it—until now? Allison Peck generated hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok by giving professional career advice. This viral trend has acquired 3.5 million views and has sparked a debate about whether quiet quitting is actually good for you and your mental health.
In this post we’re going to discuss everything there is to know about quiet quitting and answer some of the most frequently asked questions behind this concept.
What Is Quiet Quitting Concept?
You’re not actually quitting work, you’re still there, but barely. People are no longer going above and beyond their scope of work. No one is bending over backward at the expense of their mental health. Some define it as not doing things that are not strictly part of your contract. Others say it’s refusing to do the job of two to three people, which can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting.
Is This Just A Phase We Are Going Through?
Initially, you may think this may just be a generational divide because the videos that are going on are on TikTok. And that younger folks are searching for a more honest and authentic forum. But if you look closely, basically everyone has the same amount of engagement across all age groups, which is 31-33%. It could be that majority of Americans of all ages are not engaged, or that they are actively disengaged.
How Does Quiet Quitting Actually Work?
Believe it or not, quiet quitting is already happening. You may be doing it already but you just don’t know it yet. Some people thought it was workers quitting their jobs but not telling anyone about it. They’re doing it quietly. But that is not the case.
Quiet quitting does not mean leaving your job. It’s actually staying at your current job, but you just do the bare minimum. You could say it’s the complete opposite of the ‘hustle culture.’ Those were the days when everyone was excited to go to work early and didn’t mind staying late to get the job done. They put endless hours into their work, chasing promotions, and rooting for salary increases.
This is the exact opposite of that. You come to work just before you need to clock in, accomplish work just enough not to get yourself fired, and you’re out and running out that door at exactly 5 o’clock. In short, you are physically in but you are mentally checked out.
But why is this happening? What is the reason behind it? Many believe this is the second phase of the great resignation.
What Is The Great Resignation?
The Great Resignation is believed to be the first phase of quiet quitting. It describes the massive number of people who left their jobs after COVID-19 changed the work landscape around the world. Now, companies need to look for new ways for navigating the workforce and re-evaluate how they could retain their talents.
Everyone who could afford to quit their jobs did just that. A lot of people were stuck at home, lounging around, spending more quality time with their families, and basically enjoying themselves.
Phase 2, on the other hand, talks about the people who could not quit their jobs even if they wanted to. They have responsibilities, bills to pay, and kids to feed. Others could not do without their benefits so they don’t formally hand in their resignation. They found a middle ground now known as quiet quitting.
When Did Quiet Quitting Actually Become A Reality?
Some believe it began in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. A lot of people who put their careers at the top of their priority list suddenly realized how expendable they truly were. People who have been with the same company for 10, 15, or even 20 years and worked their way up the ranks found themselves furloughed. All of a sudden they were considered ‘non-essential.’ This came as a shock and frankly, quite a traumatic experience for a lot of people.
This is not easy to accept when you have sacrificed so much for your work. You literally shed blood, sweat, and tears for your company and in the blink of an eye, your job is taken away from you. Yes, there were a lot of people who got their jobs back, but a great number also was not able to return. So many companies and businesses suffered shutdowns and were not able to get back on their feet after the pandemic.
The Great Realization Sunk In
During all those months that people were stuck at home, either alone or with their families, began to realize what life was all about. They picked up on different activities, took up a hobby, and set up online businesses. In short, they started to realize the other things they wanted out of life. Things that go beyond their 9-5 jobs.
And now that they’re back at their jobs they lost the drive to return to the ‘rat race.’ Now they’re in a hurry to go home so they could go back to their online business or watch a Netflix movie with the kids on Friday family night. People’s views on life in general basically shifted.
Is Quitting Ever A Good Idea?
A lot of people believe that quitting is a good idea if your work is already doing you more harm than good. But if you’re wondering, what can I do instead of quitting? Sad to say, changes need to start from the top management down to the bottom. They may not be willing to admit it openly, but CEOs, management, and direct superiors are definitely aware of the changes in their employees’ work attitudes.
Instead of coming up with ‘dire repercussions’ or punishing people for quiet quitting, everybody should sit down and learn to hear everyone out. Go back to their company’s vision and mission statement and find out if it still applies today. What the company expects from its employees, and vice versa. Change cannot be brought about by intimidation or brute force. In the end, people just want to be seen, heard, and valued. Knowing you are willing to listen and meet them halfway would do your company a world of good.
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