Quiet quitting is when employees continue to put in the minimum amount of effort to keep their jobs, but don't go the extra mile for their employer. This might mean not speaking up in meetings, not volunteering for tasks, and refusing to work overtime. It might also result in greater absenteeism.
The term "quiet quitting" went viral last year, describing people who stay in their jobs but mentally take a step back -- for example, working the bare minimum and not making their job the center of their lives.
Almost 1 in 5 of global employees are loudly quitting or actively disengaged at work, according to a new report from Gallup. “Quiet quitting” made waves last year as employees started prioritizing boundaries by not taking on additional work or going above and beyond at their jobs.
Quiet quitting doesn't actually refer to quitting a job—it means completing one's minimum work requirements without going above and beyond or bringing work home after hours.
In short, quiet quitting has been popularized recently with employees that are just at a job for the paycheck and aren't really emotionally or intellectually engaged. It's about doing the bare minimum, and not going “above and beyond”. However, some are not so convinced that the trend even exists.
While the concept may sound reasonable, this approach is more harmful than you might think. Quiet quitting isn't just disrespectful to employers and managers in the sense that employees aren't really giving their employers the chance to try and fix their problems — it hurts employees as well.
This differs from the “great resignation” in which employees left their jobs in droves. In quiet quitting, employees simply stop putting in the extra effort. They become disengaged and unproductive, but they don't make a fuss about it.
Twenty-one percent of workers are 'quiet quitting,' choosing to put in only the bare minimum and just doing what they are paid to do.
Quiet quitting, he said, can also be seen as “acting your wage,” another term to describe doing only the job you're paid to do, rather than going above and beyond with work that won't be compensated.
Quiet quitting can have several negative effects on the employee who is leaving their job without giving notice. Some of these effects include: Damage to professional reputation: Quiet quitting can make the employee look unprofessional and unreliable, which can damage their reputation in the job market.
The most effective way to address quiet quitting is to have an open and honest conversation with employees. You can take the “quiet” out of “quiet quitting,” by airing the issues out in the open. For the employee to feel comfortable enough to be honest, you should clarify that this talk is not a punishment.
If one of your team members suddenly has a dip in productivity, either finishing projects late or producing shoddy work, there could be a quiet quitter amongst your ranks! A sudden drop in productivity could indicate that the employee has decided to stop going above-and-beyond and that their head is already elsewhere.
Good people go quiet because they feel unheard, unappreciated or under-valued. It can take time for these emotions to build, but they generally start because of: Breach of Trust: Leadership integrity is an intrinsic part of the employment relationship.
Introverts are more creative
Quieter employees tend to be more reflective and take their time to analyze what's going on. That reflection tends to make them more creative and helps them make more informed decisions. Extroverts, on the other hand, can be a bit bolder when it comes to decision-making.
I remember learning about engagement years ago and the example offered was the employee who let the phone ring and go to voicemail five minutes before quitting time. Today, this would be described as quiet quitting: deciding not to take that last call, which would extend the workday beyond the defined hours.
Quiet quitting, he said, can also be seen as “acting your wage,” another term to describe doing only the job you're paid to do, rather than going above and beyond with work that won't be compensated.