Quiet quitting – do we have to work hard to be happy?

Quiet quitting – do you know, why younger generations do not want to work harder than is needed? Generation Z entering the labor market has revolutionized the current structures. Representatives of this group faithfully stood on the side of the life-work balance. They practice quietly quitting. Young employees do not live to work but work to be able to live their life to the fullest, while contemporary employers cannot remain indifferent to this new trend.

Quiet quitting – table of contents:

1. What is quiet quitting?
2. Quiet quitting – reasons
3. Quietly, but aloud
4. Summary

What is quiet quitting?

As the name indicates, the recently popular trend of quiet quitting refers to the phenomenon of abandoning the perception that work is the top life priority. Supporters of this approach are aware that during developing their career moderation must be maintained – clear boundaries have to be set in the professional environment.

Young employees, that just enter the job market, abandon the cult of work and concentrate on tasks assigned. They give up the ambition to be the best in all areas. For the representatives of the Z generation keeping the life-work balance has become a paramount value. They limit the responsibility for the tasks, that go beyond their basic professional duties and minimalize their emotional involvement in the work. This way they keep up a safe distance and reduce occupational stress.

This approach means that employees have time to develop their hobbies, follow their interests, and rest. Quiet quitting is a change of priorities. Work and blind climbing the steps of the career ladder are no longer important – who knows maybe that is absurd? Younger generations appreciate the possibility to care for their mental and physical health as well as the increase satisfaction from their job. They know how to deal with stress and proper skills in balancing professional and personal life help them to prevent work burnout.

The trend of quiet quitting was promoted in the United States by the users of TikTok. It has to remind us that moderation and a sensible approach to the career are very important. Quiet quitting is not an encouragement to leave jobs, it has not much to do with resigning from work. The trend aims to raise awareness of the necessity to keep harmony in life. Professional life should not rely on continually exceeding the limits.

Quiet quitting – reasons

The analysis of the trend shows that it is difficult to identify the main reason for its emergence. However, it is possible to distinguish several aspects that have influenced the way representatives of the young generation wish to work.

Society has stopped and wondered about real-life values. Mass redundancies made employees take over the duties of those, who were made redundant, but it didn’t increase salaries. Employees had to deal with the psychological burden and an abundance of tasks. As a result, the blurring of boundaries between private and professional life, all intensified with the introduction of remote work, has contributed to the development of mass burnout.

Quietly, but aloud

Young generations that just start their professional development talk openly about problems in the job market. The excessive amount of duties influences negatively the physical and mental health of employees and diminishes the level of work satisfaction. The speed of the word seems to create the conviction that to achieve anything one should do as much as possible – work long hours, do more duties, and finish more tasks. Representatives of the Z generation search for moments of quietude, they want to stop for a while and celebrate other aspects of life.

The supporters of quiet quitting expect that employers will become more flexible and understanding. A supportive work environment should provide long work breaks, that allow the keeping of a fresh perspective and help to reduce the feeling of exhaustion.

Young employees don’t want to work outside the fixed hours. There is time designated for work and after work, there is private life. Endless emails and business calls are seen as an obstacle to the balance of private and work lives.

Quiet quitters wish to work in an environment that does not obstruct their freedom and allows free communication. Employees are not afraid anymore to admit that they don’t know about something or that they are not sure. Open employers and understanding motivate the employees to ask questions and to develop themselves.

In the reality of changes in approach to work among employees, the efficient HR department plays a large role. Besides productivity, it is helpful to measure the well-being of staff. Honest conversations with employees allow a better understanding of their perspective and the better customization of the professional environment to their needs.

Summary

Young employees more and more eagerly follow the vision of harmonized life, in which a professional career is not a domineering value. The quiet quitting trend is opposed to the cult of work. Contemporary employees expect a work environment without barriers, flexible to cater to their need for freedom. They express loudly their desires and see their work as one of many elements that allow them to reach life’s happiness.

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