Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? Unpacking the Latest Workplace Trend
Introduction
The phrase “quiet quitting” has exploded across social media and infiltrated water cooler conversations, sparking debates about work-life balance, employee engagement, and the very nature of a job. Is it a worrying trend signaling a generation disengaged from their work? Or is it simply a rebranding of an age-old concept: setting healthy boundaries?
Understanding “Quiet Quitting“
The term “quiet quitting” is somewhat misleading. It doesn’t actually involve quitting your job at all. Instead, it refers to the act of doing the bare minimum required of you at work, no more, no less. You clock in and out on time, fulfill your assigned tasks, but refrain from going above and beyond, working late, or taking on extra responsibilities.
This phenomenon has gained traction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by widespread burnout and a reevaluation of priorities. Many employees, having experienced the benefits of flexible work arrangements and increased personal time, are now reluctant to return to pre-pandemic work cultures often characterized by long hours and a constant “hustle” mentality.
