WTF is Quiet Quitting (and Should You Do It)?

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Let’s talk about quiet quitting; it’s a phrase that’s taken social media by storm, but what is it exactly? Well, it's not what it sounds like.

Quiet quitting isn’t quitting at all. Instead, it’s the practice of doing your job, as written, in the job description. In other words, not going above and beyond, not working overtime, not taking on other people’s responsibilities, just saying no.

In my opinion, the reason quiet quitting has gotten so popular on social media is because people are burned out and are in need of a damn break. I’m not a scientist; I can’t tell you if burnout is worse because of the pandemic, or if more people are talking about burnout now simply because they have the language to, but what I can tell you is that burnout is real. And one way to deal with burnout is to set good boundaries, so that you have the time to take care of yourself.

While quiet quitting is the latest buzzword in the work lexicon, its popularity does not mean that everyone is in agreement about whether practicing it is a good idea or not. Some people think that this is a revolutionary idea that allows people to protect themselves against being taken advantage of by their employers, while others are wondering if doing the bare minimum is a fireable offense— and yes, I have seen some managers write-in to advice columns asking if they can fire their employees for quiet quitting, so that is a real concern.

What’s the answer?

Is quiet quitting the key to the ever-elusive work life balance? Or does quiet quitting put you on the fast track to the bottom of the promotion list?

The idea of quiet quitting is in direct opposition to the work ethic I grew up with, which was the Jeffery Katzenberg “if you don’t come to work on Saturday, don’t bother coming on Sunday” mentality. And so, frankly, I’m torn.

We’re still living in a time where hard work tends to be rewarded. Even if that reward doesn’t come in literal promotions and raises, it will come as general good will within your company. And, like the name suggests, hard work is… hard. There probably will be times when you need to rise above what has been asked of you— and in my experience, that’s the best way to essentially audition for the role you want to be promoted to within your company.

But if you’re consistently doing responsibilities beyond your job description, you can and should ask for a raise and promotion. Full stop. You shouldn’t give anyone, not even your boss, a discount on your work. And you also shouldn’t feel like you need to reach a breaking point in order to excel within your company.

And a piece of advice for all you other bosses: be clear with your job descriptions. This will help you find the best person for your team, who is ready to do the job. So even if you hire an aspiring quiet quitter, they’ll still be the employee you want.

My two cents?

You shouldn’t work yourself to the bone, but you should make some strategic decisions about when to go above and beyond for the sake of your own growth. If you want to be promoted to a management position, choose to go above and beyond in a project where you’re leading a team. You don’t have to be giving 110%, 110% of the time. But, in my experience, if you shine extra bright while mastering the responsibilities that would be asked of you in a more senior role, your hat will automatically be thrown in the ring when it comes time to hire for that more senior position.

xo,

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