Quiet Quitting or Setting Boundaries? What the Latest Work Trend Really Means
The Rise of “Quiet Quitting”
Lately, the term “quiet quitting” has exploded across social media and infiltrated water cooler conversations in offices worldwide. It’s become the buzzword du jour, sparking debates about work-life balance, employee engagement, and the very nature of a job. But is this really a new phenomenon, or are we simply slapping a trendy label on an age-old struggle?
Understanding the Changing World of Work
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly shifted the landscape of work. Remote work, flexible schedules, and the “Great Resignation” all contributed to employees reevaluating their priorities and questioning the traditional 9-to-5 grind. The lines between work life and personal life blurred, often leaving individuals feeling burned out and taken for granted.
Enter “quiet quitting.” The term, while lacking a singular definition, generally refers to employees who are disengaged from their work. They do the bare minimum required of them, clocking in and out without going above and beyond. They’re not actively seeking new jobs, but they’re not emotionally invested in their current ones either.
