Quiet Quitting is the application of Work-to-rule is a management strategy in which employees set work hours and only conduct work-related activities during those hours. Contrary to its name, the notion of quitting silently emphasizes accomplishing what is required of the job rather than quitting entirely.
Unlike what the term sounds like, quiet quitting is a terminology that has gained popularity amongst employees. It means helping employees to shift focus to their lives outside the office or workspace.
This term has given employees the idea to rethink their careers. Although this term is gaining popularity now, it has existed for a long time, but it was more of an action than a term.
Quiet quitting has become a buzzword. Employees work within defined hours, and by doing so, they do what the job requires. Employees can now step up and limit their tasks to strictly what is in the job description. In simple terms, quiet quitting is an action taken by employees to rebel against the hustle of work environments (or cultures) of going beyond and above what the job requires. And, yet, being paid the amount meant for the position described in the job description.
The action of quiet quitting had existed long before it was so-called. Some of the signs include:
1. Arriving late and leaving work early: When employees are happy with the working conditions and the environment, their actions will show. They will arrive early at work and go when they are supposed to, but if the opposite happens, then employees are not happy.
2. Not attending meetings: Meetings are essential at all workplaces, and all employees are supposed to participate if invited. But when employees stop attending necessary organizational meetings, they try to communicate something they are not happy about.
3. Reduction of production: It is a severe sign of employee dissatisfaction. A well-treated employee will do his best to keep up with work so that the employer does not find faults.
4. Lack of enthusiasm: Enthusiasm is another sign that the employees are happy and satisfied with their work culture. So when enthusiasm is missing, it is a red flag showing that employees might start quitting.
5. Less concentration on team projects: Last but not least is when employees show less or no interest in team projects. One of the characteristics of a good employee is being able to work in teams, but when this is not happening, it shows that they are not interested. It might be attributed to bad working conditions.
Employees are not happy with their work environment. A few reasons include the following:
Employees are experiencing burnout due to the exhaustion from the work overload employees are receiving. It leads to less engagement and more mistakes. Because of this, employees are resulting in this act of quiet quitting.
Employers who have noticed this among their employees can take action to make sure their employees are satisfied and happy. After all, they are the ones that do all the work, so if they are not satisfied, rectification needs to take place.
As quiet quitting started as a trend, it is gaining popularity fast, and it’s up to employers to create a healthy and sustainable work environment.
