The phrase itself can be misleading. “Quiet quitting” doesn’t actually involve quitting your job at all. Instead, it refers to a shift in employee mindset where individuals are opting to do the bare minimum required of them at work, without going above and beyond or engaging in extra tasks outside their defined job description.

This trend has emerged in the wake of several contributing factors:

• Burnout Culture: Years of hustle culture and the glorification of overworking have left many feeling drained and disillusioned.
• Work-Life Balance: The pandemic blurred the lines between professional and personal lives, prompting many to reevaluate their priorities and seek more balance.
• Wage Stagnation: With wages not keeping pace with the rising cost of living, some workers feel less motivated to put in extra effort without fair compensation.

Setting Boundaries or Checking Out? The Importance of Nuance

While “quiet quitting” might seem like a catchy term, it fails to capture the complexity of the issue. Framing it as simply doing the bare minimum paints an incomplete picture. In reality, what many are calling “quiet quitting” can be better understood as a form of boundary setting.

Employees are starting to recognize the importance of:

1. Protecting their time and energy: By declining extra projects and not checking emails after hours, individuals are reclaiming their personal time and setting healthier boundaries.
2. Prioritizing well-being: Choosing not to overwork themselves allows employees to focus on their mental and physical health, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction in the long run.
3. Redefining success: Instead of equating self-worth with their job title or the number of hours worked, individuals are finding fulfillment outside of the traditional workplace metrics.