Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? The Thin Line Between Work-Life Balance and Disengagement





Introduction: The Rise of “Quiet Quitting”

The term “quiet quitting” is creating a buzz in today’s workplace. Some view it as employees finally pushing back against the pressure to overwork, while others see it as a dangerous trend towards disengagement. But could this phenomenon actually be about something more nuanced – like establishing healthy boundaries?

The Shifting Landscape of Work-Life Balance

The rise of “quiet quitting” comes amidst a larger discussion about work-life balance, especially after the blurring lines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people experienced burnout and started reevaluating their priorities.

At its core, quiet quitting is about doing the bare minimum at work – fulfilling your job description without going above and beyond. It’s about clearly separating work hours from personal time and resisting the pressure to be “always on.”

A Venn diagram showing the overlap and differences between setting boundaries and disengagement