Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? What This Work Trend Really Means
The term “quiet quitting” has taken the internet by storm, sparking countless articles, debates, and think pieces. Is it a revolutionary act of self-preservation in a demanding work culture, or a passive-aggressive approach to dissatisfaction? As with most viral trends, the reality is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
Understanding the Quiet Quitting Context
The rise of “quiet quitting” coincides with a larger conversation about work-life balance, employee burnout, and the changing nature of the employer-employee relationship. Years of hustle culture, coupled with the pressures of a global pandemic, have left many feeling depleted and reevaluating their priorities.
Into this environment enters “quiet quitting,” a term that, ironically, existed long before it went viral. At its core, it describes the act of doing the bare minimum at work—fulfilling your job description but not going above and beyond. No more staying late, volunteering for extra projects, or checking emails on weekends.
