Quiet Quitting

Quiet quitting is spreading across the US after Tik Tok creator Zaid Kahn’s video about it went viral. They describe it as “... not going above and beyond at work.” The video detailed how employees are no longer okay with not being paid adequately for their work. It also discussed the idea that work should not be your life, just a piece of it. In other words, quiet quitting happens when an individual does only what is in their job description. This means leaving work at work, not checking emails unless when off the clock, or only clocking in for scheduled shifts. Quiet quitting promotes the idea that individuals should be able to plan work around their life, not their life around their work.   

If we look at quiet quitting through a critical lens, we can see that, at the heart of this movement, people are not slacking off, they are doing what is listed in their job description.  I want to discuss why individuals are choosing to engage in this practice, who is quiet quitting, and how your team can create an environment where people feel safe and supported by one another. A place where their compensation reflects the hard work they do.    

Why are People Quiet Quitting? 

People are quiet quitting because of burnout, lack of boundary setting, lack of recognition, and for the exploitation of their work. Now that things are back to being in person, people are experiencing burnout at a quicker rate (Chang, 2022). COVID gave us time to think about our worth to different companies and, in some cases, helped us realize we are doing more than what we are being paid to do. Hence…quiet quitting. Recognition for work completed is a huge part of this movement as well. People do not feel that they are being appreciated and recognized enough for going above and beyond (Chang, 2022).  

Quiet quitting is happening more as people’s voices are being heard less. This is why it is important to bring all voices to the table. In many organizations, the consensus of a team is a great start on creating an inclusive and safe work environment. Members of a team should be able to have a say in decisions that will impact them, positively or negatively.

Who is Quiet Quitting?  

Quiet quitting is not something that everyone can afford to do. Race and gender play a significant role in who can quiet quit. If certain individuals (namely women and people of color) were to participate in this, they could lose out on promotions, pay raises, and even lose their jobs. When women and people of color make an attempt to set the boundaries, they are “creating problems” or they are seen as “troublemakers” (Rieck, 2022).  If this is how it is with setting boundaries, imagine what it may be like if they stopped going the extra mile at work.   

Quiet quitting is not for everyone. There are some professions that don’t necessarily allow for quiet quitting. Some people enjoy going above and beyond. It makes them feel good and to some people, this is how they show their work is important to them. Some people see going above and beyond as being a team player (Krueger, 2022).  

How to Create a Culture of Support:

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “how can I prevent this from happening within the team I am on?” The answer is simple. The best thing you can do is support and uplift one another. Ask those on your team what they need to make the environment more supportive. A huge part of why people are taking part in quiet quitting is due to the lack of recognition they receive. It may be small, but it has a big impact.  

Reflect on the way you treat those you work with. Do you appreciate the work of those around you? If so, how often do you tell them? Are you encouraging them to hold work-life boundaries? These are just a couple of important reflection questions that you should ask yourself as a member of your team. 

Start by emphasizing and encouraging the importance of everyone’s voice joining the table to create a safe space for you and those you work with. It is also important to make sure you advocate and model the ability to bring issues to those in charge to foster a community willing to have difficult conversations. Remember, quiet quitting is not about quitting at all; it is about making sure people are doing the work in their job description and not the work of others. Live life the way you want, not the way you think life should be.  

“How to Not Always Be Working is about noticing. It’s about paying deep attention to every moment, every person, and every gift you are being given.” - marlee grace pg. 95 

Related Content