BUSINESS NEWS - Are you quiet quitting at work? You can do something about it to change how you feel and ensure that your job is safe, if you do not want to join the writes on The Conversation.
Quiet quitting is frustrating managers, with some reportedly concerned about their employees slacking off, but Ahmed writes it is not about avoiding work, it is about not avoiding a meaningful life outside of work.
Ahmed says over the past 20 years many people joined a global culture of overwork, with unpaid labour becoming an expected part of many jobs.
“After multiple recessions and a global pandemic, millennials and generation Z in particular often do not have the same job opportunities and financial security as their parents.”
Many young people in professional jobs, who expected a relatively straightforward progression in life, struggled with precarious contracts, job uncertainties and trying to get onto the housing ladder.
Some constantly put in extra hours and go above and beyond at work to try and secure promotions and bonuses and yet still struggle.
“Perhaps in response to this disappointment, a recent study by Deloitte found young people are increasingly seeking flexibility and purpose in their work, as well as balance and satisfaction in their lives. Many young professionals are now rejecting the live-to-work lifestyle, by continuing to work but not allowing work to control them.”
Although, Ahmed writes, working at minimal capacity may feel alien, you (and your employer) should not fear quiet quitting as it could actually be good for you as working less is good for mental health.
Studies have found that work-life balance is linked to mental health in a variety of jobs and a 2021 survey of 2 017 UK workers by employer review website Glassdoor found that over half felt they had poor work-life balance.
Quiet quitting aims to restore the balance where work has crept into your personal time and can also help to separate your self-worth from work. “When all you have is work, it is hard not to derive your sense of value from it.”
