There is a new trend that is gaining traction in the post-COVID work world lately. It is the concept of disillusioned or burnt-out workers 'quiet quitting' their jobs. But what is quiet quitting and what impact can it have on your career?
Quiet quitting is the idea that workers don't actually leave their jobs, but they stop performing to their full potential. They 'quit' going above and beyond in order to impress managers and get ahead. Instead, they fulfill the required duties of their job to the strict minimum, doing just enough work to avoid being fired.
This frees up time and energy for other pursuits and to enjoy an increased level of work/life balance. While 'working to rule' – or performing only those specific job requirements listed in a formal job description and nothing besides – has long been a protest tool used by unions to put pressure on management, it has become a passive-aggressive strategy for more and more workers looking to redefine their boundaries with work and reprioritize what really matters to them.
What is driving the quiet quitting movement?
As the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, many people re-evaluated their relationship to work and how they wanted to spend their time. Many workers suddenly experienced having more time at home and with their families, which has them rethinking their priorities. These were the leading factors behind the Great Resignation, the trend of an increasing number of people leaving their jobs in search of more meaningful work or increased work/life balance.
Of course, looking for work can itself be a full-time job. It often takes a great deal of time and effort to secure a new position. This is the very opposite of what people looking to deprioritize work in favour of other aspects of their life are looking to do. It is far simpler to simply stop hustling to get ahead at work. Don't take on extra assignments or work additional hours to complete a project. Even with the current low unemployment rate, it is still much easier to just complete the minimum amount of work required, go through the motions, and coast through the workday than it is to actually quit your job and find a new one. This is quiet quitting.
Human Resources Director magazine predicts that the quiet quitting trend will only increase into 2023, driven by the Gen Y and Gen Z workers who particularly value a healthy balance between work and personal life and who prioritize mental health over climbing the corporate ladder.
Sometimes quiet quitting isn't a conscious choice
While in some cases, quiet quitting can be a passive alternative to the Great Resignation, other times workers may find themselves stepping back from giving work their full commitment because they feel unappreciated, underpaid, and disengaged from their jobs. When you no longer find your work rewarding and sense that your employer does not respect the efforts you're putting in, it is easy to become jaded.
It's difficult to be motivated to overperform and deliver stand-out achievements at work when there is no reward or recognition for those efforts. This also leads to quiet quitting. Stepping back and doing the strict minimum.
The dangers of quiet quitting
If you've genuinely deprioritized work and you can safely keep your job by coasting along and putting in a minimal amount of effort, then maybe quiet quitting is a viable option for you. However, if you are looking to build a successful career, where you move to bigger, better, and more enviable jobs in your field, then this strategy can limit your potential.
Your professional reputation is a valuable career asset. Having a network of people who have worked with you who admire your work ethic and abilities can be essential for future success. By not going the extra mile at work, merely doing the minimum requirements, and refusing to step up and help others when the tasks are technically not part of your job, you can damage that reputation.
Would you provide a professional recommendation for someone who seemed to put the bare minimum of effort into their work?
Managers also notice those team members who seem to be the least engaged and productive at work. If the time comes where there are staff cutbacks, those people will be first in line to be let go. Having been terminated from your job as an underperformer can make lining up your next gig all the more difficult.
Wikipedia says that the primary objective of quiet quitting is not to disrupt the workplace but rather to avoid occupational burnout and to pay more attention to one's mental health and personal well-being. However, people are rarely made happy by being a slacker. It can be challenging to stay motivated to work hard when you do not like your job, but just showing up, dragging your feet, and collecting your paycheck is a dead-end road unlikely to lead to any sense of well-being.
By contrast, there is a feeling of satisfaction that comes from doing a job really well. Other people also notice excellent work, and they respect those who put in the extra effort to do a standout job. Career advancement, networking connections, raises, and recommendations all come from demonstrating that you have the energy and ambition to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of your job.
Alternative strategies to quiet quitting
Every job is going to have its pros and cons. When you feel disengaged from your job, you are more likely to focus primarily on things you don't like. Try looking at the positive instead. Do you enjoy the company of your coworkers? Are there people you can learn from at work? Some of the most rewarding takeaways from any job are the connections you make and the skills you acquire.
Do you receive any satisfaction from performing the work itself? How's the commute or the work environment? Do you enjoy perks like flexible scheduling or the opportunity to work remotely?
If the cons of your work outweigh the pros, it is probably time to move on. That can also be a motivating factor to help you perform at work. The unfulfilling role isn’t a life sentence; it is a stepping stone on your way to a more rewarding career.
It is well-known that it is easier to find a job when you are already employed. So, you can show up at work and cheerfully do a good job knowing that the better results you can deliver, the better you will look to future employers and the more your managers and coworkers are likely to recommend you for future opportunities.
Then once you have lined up that next, more inspiring role, you can quit your current job for real. You should still do it quietly, though. Singing and dancing on desktops or mooning the boss as you quit your job can also harm your professional reputation.
Is 'quiet quitting' a viable career strategy? Here's what you need to know
