The benefits of actually quitting vs. quiet quitting
If you haven’t been following the work trends of the last couple of years, quiet quitting has become a popular term in the world of work.
Everyone knows what quitting looks like—telling your boss that you’re moving on and putting in your two week’s notice.
So what does quiet quitting look like?
Quiet quitting happens when an employee completes the bare minimum of their job duties rather than going above and beyond at work. It’s also been described as “acting your wage.” This can be due to many factors at work—burnout, stress, receiving tasks above your pay grade or title, feeling unappreciated. It’s important to note that quiet quitting has been around for decades, disguised as other terms such as “checking out” and “slacking off.”
Understanding the signs and reasons for quiet quitting
While there’s been debate about whether quiet quitting is misleading, a lot of the time, people don’t even know that they’re quiet quitting until they learn about what it means.
As one Empower Work help seeker shared:
“I was just reading about quiet quitting. And I realize that I too have done this to save myself from burnout…I currently work for someone who pays me a ridiculously low salary and no health insurance.”
This trend has gotten a bad reputation by employers, which may be unfair because many people define quiet quitting as setting boundaries for themselves at work and not taking on more responsibilities than they can handle. Emotions around being burned out, overworked, and stressed are completely valid.
What are the main signs of a quiet quitter?
You may not always be able to tell when someone is quiet quitting—it’s in the name. Some people don’t even know when they’re doing it themselves. If you feel yourself pulling back from big tasks, doing the bare minimum at work, working fewer hours than required, isolating yourself from the rest of the team, or not speaking up at meetings, there’s a chance you’re a quiet quitter.
What are the reasons behind quiet quitting?
There are many reasons why people feel the need to pull back from their jobs. Quiet quitting is usually a reaction to burnout and stress, unmanageable workloads, lack of role clarity, feeling unappreciated by your coworkers or boss, lack of communication with the rest of your team, or receiving tasks above your pay grade or role.
People quietly quit rather than actually quitting for many reasons. Usually, people need financial stability, another job lined up before they quit, the health benefits, or they’re afraid of change or a new experience.
While these emotions and reasons for quiet quitting are completely valid, it may be more beneficial to both employees and employers for people to go through with the real thing—quitting.
The benefits of actually quitting
The truth is, solving the epidemic of quiet quitting is about bigger-picture changes in employers. There are certain steps that employers must take to address the issue—understanding that workers may not be happy with their jobs, improving the work culture and engagement, redefining and revisiting job duties and roles, and finding ways to avoid burnout for their employees.
If you feel yourself becoming a quiet quitter, chances are you have a reason at work that’s holding you back from your full potential. And this may be out of your control. For this reason, it may be a good idea to actually quit rather than stay at the same job doing the bare minimum.
It’s important in any case where you’re quitting your job, that you have a feeling of aiming towards something better for yourself rather than running from something at your old job. Make a game plan to find a job that suits your salary expectations, your responsibilities, and your desired work environment.
In the meantime, try to see your current work situation as an opportunity and motivation to gain experience and skills for your resume. There’s nothing wrong with looking for another job that suits your needs, as long as you’re using your current employment status to your advantage. Holding out for a better job will avoid resume gaps, build skills, and provide financial stability in between jobs.
You’ll probably find that actually quitting your job and finding another job rather than quiet quitting, that you’ll feel happier, more productive, more included, and less burned out. Even though change can be scary, it’s also a great opportunity to grow your career.
Going through any job change or job loss can be extremely difficult. But you’re not alone. Empower Work peer counselors are just a text away at 510-674-1414 for free, confidential support.
*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.
