Why is ‘quiet quitting’ a trend in the workplace?

Employees and managers alike are overheard discussing the “great resignation” in a variety of locations (not to mention on Zoom, Teams, and Slack), where it is being discussed.

A significant increase in the number of persons leaving their employment was observed in the United Kingdom in 2021, and even today, one-fifth of UK employees report that they intend to leave their positions within the next year in the pursuit of higher compensation and greater job satisfaction.

You might want to consider “quiet quitting” if you’re miserable at work but can’t leave your job because of financial constraints or because there are no alternatives that appeal to you. TikTok has become a popular platform for young people to express themselves creatively, and this trend of completing only the bare minimum required at work has certainly struck a chord with them.

It has also frustrated supervisors, some of whom are said to be concerned about the amount of work their staff are putting in. However, retiring quietly does not mean forsaking work; rather, it means not avoiding a life outside of work that is valuable to you.

During the past two decades, a growing number of people have been part of a global culture of overwork, in which unpaid labor has become an accepted component of a variety of employment. Millennials and Generation Z, in particular, do not always have the same work possibilities or the same level of financial stability as their parents did because of the aftermath of repeated recessions and a global pandemic.

Precarious contracts, job insecurity, and the difficulty to obtain a foothold on the housing ladder are challenges that many young people in professional employment have had to face. These individuals had anticipated a reasonably smooth progression in life. There are certain people who consistently put in extra hours and go above and beyond at work to try to get promotions and bonuses; nevertheless, despite their efforts, they are unsuccessful.

A recent study conducted by Deloitte indicated that young people are increasingly looking for flexibility and purpose in their employment, as well as balance and fulfillment in their life. Perhaps this is a response to the dissatisfaction that they have experienced. Many young professionals today are opting out of the “live-to-work” lifestyle by continuing to work but not letting their jobs to dictate how they live their lives.

It is possible that working at a reduced capacity will feel foreign to you. However, you (and your employer) shouldn’t be afraid of a quiet resignation because it may actually be beneficial to you in the long run.

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The burnout reason

Numerous academic investigations have established a connection between maintaining a healthy work-life balance and maintaining positive mental health. In addition, a poll conducted in 2021 by the website Glassdoor, which provides reviews of employers, questioned 2,017 workers in the United Kingdom and found that more than half of them thought they had a bad work-life balance.

The goal of a quiet resignation is to bring back into balance areas of your life where work has invaded your personal time. Detaching your sense of worth from your career might also be beneficial. It is difficult not to derive your sense of value from your work when all you have is that to fall back on.

It’s easy to internalize perceived failures at work, such not getting a promotion or recognition for your efforts, and treat them as though they were your own personal shortcomings.

This might lead to increased anxiety, which in turn causes you to stress about how you can enhance your performance. People’s typical reaction to being asked to perform more work is to take on even more, which only serves to exacerbate the negative feedback loop that exists between overwork and low self-esteem.

When things are in their worst possible state, it can lead to burnout. Burnout is an occupational syndrome that was officially recognized by the World Health Organization in 2019. Burnout is characterized by emotions of depletion, tiredness, cynicism, mental alienation from work, and reduced performance. Overworking oneself poses a considerable danger of burnout, which can have long-term negative effects on one’s physical, emotional, and mental health.

Individuals and businesses alike struggle with and bear the financial burden of burnout. Many people who experience burnout end up taking time off from work, or at the very least, they operate at a capacity that is lower than their normal level. A greater balance between one’s personal and professional lives can be achieved by the practice of quietly leaving one’s job, which could prevent burnout from occurring in the first place.

Work relations and productivity

According to research, happier workers are also more productive and engaged in their work. The sense of being distracted or of not wanting to be present may even be reduced as a result of this.

People who are happy have a greater propensity to be friendlier and more open, which can develop workplace friendships. People frequently cite workplace friendships as a big component of their happiness while they are working. Because the focus of quiet resignation is on just performing one’s job, the detrimental effects of always feeling in competition with one’s coworkers are eliminated.

Developing friendships with coworkers satisfies our fundamental desire for a sense of belonging, which, in turn, can improve job performance and strengthen our commitment to our place of employment. All of these factors may lead to increased production, which would, of course, result in increased profitability.

In answer to the great resignation, a quiet resignation could be interpreted as a “great freedom.” People are opting for balance and joy in their lives rather than exhaustion and overwork. They are putting up barriers to prevent their sense of identity and self-worth from becoming dependent on their level of production at work.

Employers shouldn’t let a drop in productivity make them anxious; rather, they should use the opportunity presented by the “quiet quitting” movement to prioritize the health and happiness of their workforce. Workers will receive the message that they are valued as a result of encouraging a better work-life balance, which will lead to increased engagement, productivity, and loyalty: a win-win situation for everyone involved.