What is Quiet Quitting & How Can Companies Address It?

What is Quiet Quitting & How Can Companies Address It

What is Quiet Quitting?

Quiet quitting isn’t really about quitting at all. It comes down to doing the bare minimum required of you at your job. No overtime or going out of your way. Some consider it a radical reaction to the hustle culture.

Quiet quitters are learning to create a healthy work-life balance by not overdoing it at work. Instead, they aim to do the bare minimum required of them according to their job description. Instead of being driven to climb the corporate ladder and cultivating a hustle culture mentality, they’re letting go.

According to quiet quitters, this amounts to just doing what you have to do at work but does not equal neglecting your duties. It just means no longer finding your self-worth in your job position. Many have jumped onto this trend because the mindset shift gives them stress relief.

Some people say it is a good way of setting boundaries. Others say that dialing down responsibilities can lead to complacency. With concerns about an economic slowdown and dissatisfaction at work seemingly at an all time high, companies cannot ignore this trend.

Where Does Quiet Quitting Come From?

Quiet quitting gives name to a complacent response to work that has actually been around for as long as the concept of employment has. And like so many new things today, it began on TikTok. A TikToker by the name Zaid Khan shared a video that has resulted in over 37.5 million users engaging in #quietculture.

He famously stated that “your worth is not defined by your labour” in the video that set off this trend. As a result, many employees are sticking to their baseline job expectations and eight-hour shifts, then leaving the stress behind to focus on enhancing their life experience.

@zaidleppelin

On quiet quitting #workreform

♬ i thought you wanted to dance – ruby

Why Are People Quiet Quitting in Droves?

People are tired of working at dead-end jobs and earning a wage that doesn’t keep up with inflation. They are tired of having no say in how they spend their days and being forced to do things they don’t want to do because they have to.

They’re sick of being treated like cattle and told what to do, and they’ve had enough of being told what to do by people who think they know better than them. It’s a feeling of powerlessness that has helped many employees realise life is too short to waste killing yourself stressing over work.

With the pandemic, more pressure has been placed on the shoulders of employees as economic limits forced companies into precarious positions. Many employees were pushed to work more hours or paid less. The resulting employee burnout is what many suspect has led to this trend.

Is Quiet Quitting Problematic for Companies?

You can’t have quiet quitting without the loud failing of companies towards their employees.

According to Gen Z Quiet Quitters, Boomers and Gen-X Executives have often displayed blithe employer expectations that don’t take the well-being of the employee to heart. Workplace experts are now recognising quiet quitting as a symptom of a larger issue that the pandemic seems to have highlighted.

If companies want employees that perform well and don’t hold back in their position, they may have to make adjustments. Business leaders can no longer assume every employee is out to give their best or to sacrifice above their contract hours. Yes, it is having an impact on companies, and it can be problematic, especially where an unhealthy workplace culture exists.

It’s important to recognise this as more than a rebellious spout from disgruntled employees. It is a symptom of a workforce pushed to the edge. This workplace phenomenon is a coping mechanism that needs fair consideration and action from employers.

 

Loud Failing

 

What is Loud Failing?

Loud failing is an employer’s failure to meet the needs of its workforce and honour their responsibilities and commitments towards workers. A failure to recognise that workers are human and must be treated with dignity and respect at all times.

And according to Leigh Henderson on Instagram, loud failing is the direct cause of quiet quitting. As workplace trends go, having a demotivated and disengaged workforce is not desirable. But many employers have lost the privilege of a top performer through neglect and careless treatment of their employees.

@hrmanifesto

#quietquitting is the result of #loudfailing – YOUR TURN EMPLOYERS #stoploudfailing #engagement #dobetter #gaslighting #worklife #corporate #toxic #work #corporateamerica #hr #hrmanifesto

♬ original sound – HRManifesto

What Can Companies Do to Solve Quiet Quitting?

1. Trust

Cultivate trust between team members, managers, and the entire workforce. Statistics show that only 27% of employees trust that their managers have their best interest at heart. This can only change if managers truly begin to have the interest of their employees as a priority.

2. Core Values

Enhancing the quality of life of your employees should become a core value at your workplace. An employee that feels valued and has a good employee experience with your company is less likely to disengage or become a quiet quitter. Think of ways you can improve your employees’ lives and action steps that will make a real difference.

This can often mean an investment from the company’s side. It could mean better-paying roles, more conscientious leave practices, or recalibrating their workload so that it is more manageable.

3. Encouragement

You may be surprised by how positively employees will respond to genuine encouragement. You can congratulate them on their achievements and speak kindly and graciously to show respect and offer a sense of value.

When an employee feels psychologically safe in the workplace, they will be more likely to seek help when facing challenges. This mindset is great for cultivating a growth mindset instead of quiet quitting.

What About Quiet Quitting in a Healthy Work Environment?

If your company is already a great place to work that respects employees and takes all the right steps to help them flourish, does that mean you’re safe from quiet quitting? No, unfortunately, there is an unhealthy side to this trend. Some employees are quiet quitting even though the pressure, stress, or unfairness in a role is non-existent.

At Mint Kulca, we refer to employees who underperform despite the best efforts from the employer as C-players. You can find out How to Deal with C-Players in Your Team on our blog.

We can also help you create an effective hiring strategy that will result in hiring top performers 90% of the time.

Book a demo or have a chat with one of our consultants and learn how Mint Kulca help in creating a happy, healthy workforce that delivers results.

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