The Rise of Quiet Quitting
It’s the buzzword echoing through workplaces and social media feeds: “quiet quitting.” But what does it really mean? Is it a silent protest, a mass exodus in slow motion, or simply a re-calibration of what work-life balance should look like in the modern age?
The term, while gaining traction recently, speaks to a sentiment simmering beneath the surface for years. Employees, feeling overworked and undervalued, are pushing back, not with grand pronouncements or dramatic walkouts, but by silently setting boundaries. No more going above and beyond, no more late nights or weekend work – just doing what’s explicitly required and clocking out mentally and physically when the workday ends.
Burnout and the Need for Boundaries
To understand “quiet quitting,” we need to acknowledge the backdrop against which it’s unfolding. Burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to overwhelming workplace stressors, has reached epidemic proportions.
- A 2021 study by Indeed found that 53% of workers reported feeling burned out.
- The World Health Organization officially recognizes burnout as an “occupational phenomenon.”
- Factors like excessive workloads, lack of control, poor work-life balance, and insufficient reward or recognition contribute to this growing issue.
