Workers “Quietly Quit” To Avoid Burnout, And Collect The Same Paycheck
Everyone wants to avoid burnout from work; that hit-the-wall feeling where every cell in your body feels like it has been depleted and then pan-fried to smithereens.
Many workers feel like they have no choice but to overwork themselves to satisfy their employer...or quietly quit.
The Expectation of Overtime
After spending five or more years in the workforce, many are realizing that they're not just expected to do their job description but to go above and beyond that on a regular basis.
The expectation is that workers should take on not only a heavier workload but longer hours, too.
Pressured To Work More
Workers who find themselves in a situation where they are expected to regularly work overtime and take on more responsibility say they feel pressured to do so.
Initially, they may think that they are working towards a promotion. But for many, that's not the case.
More Work, But Not More Pay
Those hopping on the 'quietly quitting' trend and sharing their opinion on TikTok say they're tired of being expected to constantly go above and beyond their job.
It's not only raising workers' stress levels, but cutting into their personal time without compensation.
Quietly Quitting Can Happen When Management Doesn't Listen
Quietly quitting has been adopted by workers who feel like their voices aren't being heard by their employers.
Their management knows that they have too much work but they're not going to make a change.
Quiet Quitters Slowly Pull Back
The method of quietly quitting includes slowly scaling back your effort at work without telling anyone that you're doing so.
A teacher who eventually left her job said that she cut back her effort slowly, so no one would notice and she wouldn't get fired.
"Scale Back On Your Commitment Or Your Presence"
Maggie Perkins told Business Insider that to her, quietly quitting meant "scale back on your commitment, or your presence, or your hustle."
That means maintaining a lower, steady level of effort without trying to grow in any way.
Do Just Enough Not To Get Fired
To some of the workers who hopped on this trend, quietly quitting means doing the bare minimum, just enough not to get fired.
They say it works just fine for people who aren't interested in moving up in the company, or getting a pay raise.
Doing More Would Lead To Burnout
Quiet quitters believe that sticking to their job description and limiting their working hours to the hours they initially agreed upon when they were hired prevents burnout.
This seems fair enough to anyone who has experienced the dread of burnout.
It Doesn't Have To Do With A Lack Of Passion
While some might point a finger and label these people as lazy, they might be too quick to judge.
The quiet quitters say this has nothing to do with a lack of passion of their jobs, but everything to do with protecting their work life balance and mental health.
Calling For The Workplace To Change
Is 'quietly quitting' a trend, or a movement? Either way, those who are sharing the quieting quitting messaging are calling upon a change in the workplace and expectations of management.
What that will look like is yet is to be determined.