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The term “quiet quitting” has become a trendy topic lately thanks to GenZ’s viral TikTok video. So what exactly is it? Quiet quitting is when someone stops putting in effort or appears to be uninterested in staying at the company. It’s a dangerous situation to get into and can have a lasting impact on your career. Knowing when and how to leave a job has been discussed for some time now, but quiet quitting is something that we see less often talked about. However, it can be even more dangerous to your career than simply leaving without notice. Let’s take a look at what quiet quitting means and why you should never “quiet quit” if you want to keep your career moving forward.
What is quiet quitting?
Quiet quitting, also known as “passive quitting,” is when you stop putting in the effort, almost as if you’ve already quit your job without actually giving your two weeks’ notice. For example, an employee who used to be very engaged and enthusiastic about their job might start coming in late or be very unproductive. They might also start showing up to fewer meetings or skipping out on projects they used to take part in regularly. All of these are signs that an employee is quietly quitting their job.
Why is quiet quitting bad for your career?
Quiet quitting can be extremely dangerous for your career. Whereas, quitting a job, with no logical explanation is bad. Quiet quitting is even worse. Quiet quitting is a fast way to burn bridges with your current employers and future employers. While you may not have a great relationship with your current employer, you should always strive to leave on good terms. Quiet quitting does just the opposite. You have essentially given up in their eyes and are only doing the bare minimum.
It can also be detrimental to society as a whole. Just doing enough to get by, doesn’t bring progress, especially to those who have striven to close the pay gaps for minorities and women. Companies will begin to adjust their salaries based on the work that is being produced, bonuses won’t be paid out, and overall salaries will go down.
What you should know about quiet quitting?
You might not even realize you’re doing it. Quiet quitting can happen to anyone, even if you’re extremely motivated and dedicated to your job, and it happens gradually. Quiet quitting isn’t an event; it’s a process. It’s likely that you won’t even realize that you’re doing it until it’s too late. It’s often triggered by something. Maybe there’s a major project that’s causing you a lot of stress. Maybe you’re having issues with your manager, or maybe there’s something in your personal life that’s impacting your work life. Quiet quitting is generally hard to reverse. Once you’ve started on the path to quiet quitting, it’s often difficult to turn things around and get back on track.
What to do if you feel like quiet quitting?
If you think you’re beginning to quietly quit, you can reverse course. You can do this by re-engaging at your current workplace. Potentially finding new avenues at work to engage. Maybe there is a project that interests you and you want to take part in it?
If you feel your current employer just doesn’t offer you what you need then it may be time to find a new career or job that truly excites you and allows you to work to your full potential. Thrive Global CEO Arianna Huffington put it best, “Implicit in quiet quitting is the idea that finding purpose and engagement in our work somehow saps us, or makes us more susceptible to burnout. But in fact purpose is an antidote to burnout.”
After all, it’s better to find something that you are truly interested in than just getting by. Not only will your mental health thank you, but your career will also thank you.
If you find yourself quietly quitting and needing a new career, contact Aligned Solutions to see the new and exciting opportunities we have available. We will help you feel reinvigorated and ready to take on your next career opportunity.