Quiet Quitting- A 2022 Trend?

Quiet quitting became a well-publicised trend in the US and other countries in the early 2020s, partly due to social media.

Quiet Quitting: What Is It? How does it Work?

"Quiet quitting" refers to leaving your job after only doing the least required work.

Professors Anthony C. Klotz and Mark C. Bolino noted that while quiet quitters proceed to gratify their principal responsibility, they are less inclined to participate in activities that are considered citizenship behaviours. This would include showing up early, staying late, or participating in non-mandatory conferences. This was the explanation given to concerned executives in a September 2022 Harvard Business Review article.

How have Managers Reacted to Quiet Quitting?

Managers' responses to the phenomenon have been conflicted. Some people have been understanding, partly because it has been challenging to replace quiet quitters in recent years due to the tight job market. Others have reacted to employees quitting discreetly by announcing their termination loudly or quietly.?

The term "quiet firing" has gained popularity in and of itself. It refers to the practice of making work so miserable that the person feels forced to leave.

Why Should Businesses Be Concerned About This 'Trend'?

Quiet quitting can appear in various ways, including decreased productivity, absences from meetings and team gatherings, refusal to participate in team tasks, and arriving and departing early during business hours.

Many individuals choose to leave their jobs for a variety of reasons quietly. Some may feel devalued by their employers; others may believe that their position within the organisation threatens their work-life harmony; others may perceive that they must reevaluate their priorities.

Employers and managers may need to devise a strategy to stop their staff from becoming increasingly burned out at work to dodge the bullet that causes them to get disconnected from their jobs and "quiet quit."

How To Stop Employees From Quietly Quitting Your Company?

• Limit workload increases and keep them brief. Employees' working motors can rest and relax if workload increases are minimal.
• Pay your staff what they deserve. Due to inadequate salaries and a lack of incentives to go above and beyond, many struggling employees who are on the point of quietly resigning may feel unsatisfied with their jobs. Give your staff motivation whenever they perform well at work by providing them with fair compensation and the chance to advance. Offering incentives like bonuses can also be an excellent way to motivate your staff to put in extra effort and continue to be interested in their profession.
• Establish a positive rapport with your staff. Building transparent and open lines of communication with your team members is a beautiful way to start. By doing this, managers may maintain their employees' interest in and commitment to their jobs.
• Offer a structure of assistance and pay attention to your staff. Managers can offer a support system to assist and direct their staff. Asking and listening to your team can go a long way toward making them feel valued and cared for.

Quiet quitting might or might not be a recent or accurate trend. However, it has drawn attention to what is quite a common employee unhappiness, which employers may need to address.