Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? Navigating the Changing Workplace
The Rise of “Quiet Quitting”: Trend or Misnomer?
The term “quiet quitting” is buzzing around the modern workplace. This seemingly new phenomenon has sparked debates about employee engagement, work-life balance, and the very definition of a job. But is “quiet quitting” truly a new trend, or is it simply a rebranding of setting boundaries?
Contextualizing the Conversation: Burnout and the Great Resignation
To understand the rise of “quiet quitting,” we need to look at the context in which it emerged. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant shifts in the workplace, with many experiencing burnout from increased workloads, blurred work-life boundaries, and heightened anxieties. This led to the “Great Resignation,” as employees reevaluated their priorities and sought better work environments.
In this climate of widespread burnout and a desire for better work-life balance, “quiet quitting” emerged as a coping mechanism for employees. It became a silent protest against hustle culture and the expectation of going above and beyond.
