Is quiet quitting really the answer?

The name quiet quitting is a bit misleading relative to what it actually means. It has nothing to do with leaving your job, nor doing so quietly. Quiet quitting is more accurately described as a simple choice to work your job description. Nothing more, and nothing less. While jobs might refer to this as employees working the bare minimum, it depends on the perspective.

Setting Boundaries with Your Job

If you think about it, your job is just another relationship that you have in your life. To maintain a healthy relationship with work, you need to be able to set boundaries. Setting boundaries allows you to know how and when to stick up for yourself when necessary. This helps to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

So while choosing to simply work your job description may upset your boss, that doesn't actually mean you did anything wrong. They hired you to do a job and agreed to pay you a certain amount to get that job done. It is not within their right to expect you to do more work just because they demand that of you. Will there be compensation for your extra work?

Work is Important, But So is Life

It's easy for a job to request you do something simply from the goodness of your heart. But if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it's sadly that many jobs will drop you at a moment's notice. Have you ever wondered why workers are expected to put in a 2-week notice when leaving a job but that most jobs will not give workers they lay off the same courtesy?

Your career is an important aspect of your life but not your entire purpose. Many of us have families, friends, children, marriages, relationships, social lives, hobbies, and even other jobs outside of our primary career choice.

Quiet quitting is a way for many people to communicate that they wish to keep their jobs but are not deeply motivated to go above and beyond. This is often a way to preserve their mental well-being. It helps them maintain a good life outside of a job offering them only a living wage.