Each and every one of the generations that join the wheel of work soon realizes that this was not how they had imagined their life: dealing with obnoxious bosses, tight schedules, and constant demotivation that decreases the desire to continue. It is no surprise that the term “quiet resignation” or “quiet quitting” has now become popular among young employees. Basically, this tendency is to do the minimum in order to avoid getting fired. It is not about getting off the payroll. In fact, the idea is to stay with the company but focus on your life outside the office. Generation Z is saying that they are not going to go the extra mile while being underpaid, and they actually have a point.
Burnout Has its Consequences
Actually, it’s a response to the culture of job burnout: why do more if we don’t get paid more? And if the bosses don’t accept it, they can look for something else, but nobody here is going to sweat more than necessary. For many, it is a survival tactic and, for others, a defense mechanism to have a healthier life, both mentally and physically. Having other priorities before work without feeling bad about it. Experts say this has been caused in part by the pandemic. Different changes that we have recently experienced have made us reflect more on the meaning of our life and our time, but above all, on the reconciliation between work and personal life. Let us remember that for more than a year, there has been talked of the “great resignation,” an exodus of workers from all over the world caused by exhaustion and the feeling of freedom that remote work provides.
Quiet Quitting is Expanding
It is a fact that the enthusiasm for work has fallen short. If we take a look at the latest surveys and reports, we can see that employees are less and less engaged in their jobs. A that only 9% of workers in the United Kingdom were committed to their jobs. Moreover, worldwide, one of every five workers plans to leave their job within two years, according to another survey. In fact, Europe has the lowest regional percentage of engaged employees. Similarly, the motivation of US employees is decreasing: only 30% of Generation Z and younger millennials, born in 1989 or later, say they feel passionate about their jobs. The concept of “silent resignation” made its way to TikTok when a video made by @zkchillin went viral last July. Many users shared their own experiences, using the hashtag #quietquitting, earning millions of views on the platform.
No to Unpaid Work
But there is another way of looking at it. It is not so much about a silent resignation but about putting limits on unpaid work. The commitment between employee and company makes us go a little further than our contractual duty, for which we receive a salary according to our contract. It is also about leaving work when we leave the office, not taking home the pending tasks that often make it impossible for us to disconnect from the world of work, even more so in a context like the current one, where we are always connected. In Europe, this is regulated by the people’s right to digital disconnection, but it is not always complied with. And on many occasions, it is the workers themselves who fail to comply with this rule of disconnection. This way, they show their availability at any time with the company, and that takes a toll on their private life.
The Importance of Free Time
, in April 2020, Americans working from home were spending nearly three more hours at work each day, replacing commuting with Zoom meetings and Slack messages. All this has contributed to the fact that more and more people choose to value free time more and act accordingly. Even if we spend our free time online, it is important that we do something that we like and, above all, not pay attention to messages that have to do with work. For example, some like to read articles, spend time on social media, or enjoy gambling online. For example, to enjoy your favorite games, whether you are into slots, casinos, or live dealer games. The good news is that when you play online at the recommended sites, your safety is more than guaranteed.
In conclusion, “quiet quitting” is becoming a real trend these days, and if something does not change soon, things could get even worse in the future.