Have you heard about quiet quitting?
Listen in on today’s episode and learn from Lindsay and Aubrey about quiet quitting.
This phenomenon is happening worldwide.
Have you noticed it in your culture?
You might have friends that are quiet quitting or be doing it yourself.
Join the discussion and see why this is happening now.
What is quiet quitting?
We are doing a deep dive today into what quiet quitting is.
This has come up recently in an All Ears English live class.
A student mentioned the concept of quiet quitting.
This has been featured in the New York Times article: “What is quiet quitting and who is it for?”
Quiet quitting is when you are no longer willing to go above and beyond for work.
Instead, you do the required amount to achieve your goals at work.
It is a fascinating phenomenon that sparks discussions.
Research on society and culture has shown that people doing this are born after 1989.
54% of workers are beginning to disengage and quiet quit.
Perspective on quiet quitting
There is also a Wall Street Journal article entitled, “If Your Co-Workers Are ‘Quiet Quitting,’ Here’s What That Means.”
This article shows even the younger generation are also saying no to the hustle culture which has become a big discussion in itself.
Aubrey agrees that it is important to value your life outside of work and not put all your energy into a career.
This way you are able to make memories and have important experiences with your loved ones.
Work ethic
The idea of finding work-life balance is different for everyone.
Some choose quiet quitting and just clock in and out of work while putting in minimum effort.
Others choose to prioritize both work and personal life and strike a balance.
There is value in hard work and putting in the effort to achieve goals in life.
If you are someone who is just doing the bare minimum at work, your colleagues might not want to work with you.
This will be especially true if they have a really good work ethic.
What caused quiet quitting to become popular?
Quiet quitting was brought on by the pandemic.
Pre-pandemic employees kept running around getting work done, day in and day out.
Work in the office stopped abruptly due to the global spread of Covid-19.
Some people moved their work area to their homes, which created a mental shift.
Many employees were then working in an environment without supervision.
For some, this gives the idea that they can get away with doing the bare minimum.
For others, they realized they could get their workload done in much less time.
Is work ethic changing with younger generations?
Another dilemma is the young workforce whose introduction to work is not the usual setup.
They are joining the workforce in a post-Covid world, where it is more rare to report at an office and collaborate with colleagues.
Their work ethic may be molded by seeing co-workers who are already quiet quitting.
It is problematic when the younger generation doesn’t find value in having a strong work ethic.
Employees should not hustle so hard that there is no work-life balance.
However, hard work and effort will lead to the experience and skills needed for promotion and success.
Will quiet quitting help your career?
Lindsay mentioned the article, “If Your Quiet Quitting Is Going Well, You Might Be Getting ‘Quiet Fired’.”
In a company, the employees who always bring their A-game and give value to the company are protected because they are considered assets.
Every employee reports to a higher authority whose job is to ensure the overall expectations of the company are being met.
In the United States, employers may let go of those with less to offer.
As for the employee, no one doesn’t want to move up.
Everyone seeks to improve and move up in work and life.
Should you quiet quit?
It might be unwise to merely meet the minimum requirements of your job.
Instead, consider seeking balance between the amount of work you do and the time you reserve for yourself and loved ones.
You can work hard during working hours and at the end of the day value yourself and your personal time.
Seek to add happiness and fulfillment aside from your career.
Make an assessment of the amount of work you do versus the pay you get.
If you’re doing so much extra work for free or if it is beyond the scope of your job responsibilities, take a step back.
There is no fault in setting boundaries.
It is also good to have a career where you find fulfillment and meaning.
You may be in a job right now that you don’t like because you need the paycheck.
However, if you are able, seek a position where you feel fulfilled.
This will allow you to have a better quality of life.
Takeaway
If you’re lucky enough to be in a career that gives you fulfillment, appreciate it and apply yourself.
At the end of the day, enjoying a good quality life is what everyone wishes to experience.
Keep consuming English resources that expose you to terms like quiet quitting.
This can help you start interesting discussions and gather thoughts from colleagues and friends.
This is also an opportunity for you to make connections in English.
Do you know anyone who is quiet quitting?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
