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Quiet quitting: What the workplace trend sweeping social media actually means

August 21, 2022

The idea is sweeping social media: “quiet quitting.” But for most advocates, the movement is quite different than what the name suggests.

This trend, which is growing especially on the social media app TikTok, has nothing to do with leaving your job. Rather, it supports the idea of meeting expectations at work and nothing more — avoiding going above and beyond.

The divide is about whether this movement is suggesting slacking off to the point of not getting work done, or if it is just encouraging workers to fulfill the duties of their job description to the best of their abilities within normal working hours.

Some experts suggest it’s just a controversial name for doing your job with healthy work-life boundaries, while others say dedication is still important for advancing your career.

Developing a healthy work-life balance is important, but going above and beyond in your work is not always a bad thing, in fact having ambitious people on a team is important, said Mary Ann Baynton, workplace relations specialist and CEO of Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Corp.

“The problem comes when the going above and beyond is expected without compensation,” said Baynton.

If two people were to work the same job but one is very ambitious and works more hours for recognition, the other should not be punished for just doing the work they were hired for, she said.

It is important, said Baynton, that employees are doing the work they were hired to do to the best of their abilities.

Source: National Post
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