Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? Why the Latest Work Trend Sparks Debate

Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? Why the Latest Work Trend Sparks Debate

The Rise of “Quiet Quitting

The phrase “quiet quitting” has exploded across social media and infiltrated water cooler conversations, igniting passionate discussions about work-life balance, employee engagement, and the very nature of a job. But is this new phenomenon truly about quitting on the sly, or is it simply a rebranding of an age-old concept: setting boundaries?

Understanding the Changing Work Landscape

The COVID-19 pandemic undeniably reshaped our relationship with work. Remote work blurred the lines between professional and personal life, often leading to longer hours and increased burnout. This, coupled with the “hustle culture” often glorified in entrepreneurial circles, created a breeding ground for discontent. Enter “quiet quitting,” a term popularized on TikTok, which essentially describes doing the bare minimum at work and resisting the pressure to go above and beyond.

A person closing their laptop at the end of the workday, symbolizing a healthy work-life balance