The latest work life trend that has gone viral on TikTok is called ‘Quiet Quitting’. The video, that has millions of views, first went live in July 2022 by user@zkchillin who explained “You’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond. You're still performing your duties, but you're no longer subscribing to the hustleculture mentality that work has to be your life; the reality is it's not, and your worth as a person is not defined by your labour”.
Whilst the video has gained huge popularity on social media and with the press, someone who limits their workload to doing just enough isn’t a new concept. Some simply subscribe to doing what their job spec entails, for others it could well be a sign that they aren’t happy in their position or it could be an indication of burnout.
Seven out of ten employees experienced burnout according to a publication by Asana titled 2022 Anatomy of Work Report. If this is true, the pandemic effect could mean that they are less engaged, making more mistakes and are less productive.
TechTarget lists the signs of quiet quitting as including some of the following:
• Not attending meetings
• Arriving late or leaving early
• Reduction in productivity
• Less contribution to team projects
• Not participating in planning or meetings
• Lack of passion or enthusiasm
Whether a conscious decision or not, quiet quitting could well have a detrimental affect on other areas of your life. When you strive to be your best at work, it makes you feel good and celebrate your achievements which has a positive impact on your personal life. If you are just going through the motions during the working day, it could lead to lethargy at home and in your social life. It could also have a negative impact on your colleagues who mirror your mentality, causing conflicts and a downturn in efficiency.
Nothing is more important than a positive work-life balance and quiet quitting may well be a rejection of a
punishing workload and a rejection of unpaid overtime. Lockdowns gave people the space to re-evaluate how important health and time with family and friends is outside of work. If you have simply checked out of work, quiet quitting is a symptom that you are in the wrong job role and it is time to perfect your CV. Depending on where you are with your career and life, quiet quitting could be a practice that delivers mental and physical benefits as you liberate yourself from too much pressure; it could also be an indication that it is time for a change.