Why Quiet Quitting & Quiet Firing Are Not New - Datum RPO

Last year, a number of news stories and videos discussing "quiet quitting" and "quiet firing" appeared in the media and on social media.

The "quiet quitting" topic in particular gained popularity, and it was discussed that the "live-to-work" mentality should be replaced with a "work-to-live" one. As a result of the pandemic, younger workers who want a better work-life balance have reportedly been influenced by the videos, which have spread to other social media platforms.

What’s quiet quitting

The definition of "quiet quitting" is a little hazy, which is perhaps unsurprising given that the concept originated on a social media site best known for dances and life hacks. Employees who quietly leave their jobs are those who "do not go above and beyond at work and simply meet their job description," according to workplace consultant Gallup. In other words, employees who quietly resign will do the bare minimum required of them while refusing to do any additional work that could be considered discretionary.

Signs of quiet quitting:

• Disengagement that persists over time.
• Observe only the strictest set of performance requirements.
• Isolation from the team's other members.
• Withdrawal from any conversations, tasks, or activities that are not necessary.
• Attendance at meetings without participation or action.
• In order to make up for the slacking, teammates report a sudden increase in their workload.

What’s quiet firing

When managers fail to adequately coach, support, and develop an employee's career, they may quietly fire that employee, causing that employee to leave the company.

As a last resort, managers may choose to quietly fire workers by allowing them to endure seriously negative or toxic work environments as a means of coercing them out of their positions. It resembles gaslighting.

Additionally, despite the fact that this may be a common practice in the workplace today, it isn't effective leadership, morally right, or productive. When key employees leave, it can at the very least hurt your company's reputation as a great place to work, erode team trust, and even affect your ability to maintain customer satisfaction.

Signs of quiet firing:

• Absence of advice or feedback.
• Denying opportunities for promotion without providing a sufficient justification or explanation.
• Managers mistreating staff members or not showing up for meetings.
• Employees who receive unfavorable working hours or shift schedules.
• Lower-level tasks are being given to employees.

Why are quiet quitting and quiet firing not new

Contrary to what some recent HR musings might lead you to believe, "quiet quitting" or "quiet firing" are nothing new. These are not pandemic-related trends; rather, they are merely being discussed in a different way because they are established workplace norms. Or, to put it another way, people are more open to discussing these problems, and younger generations are more aware of them as toxic workplaces are preventing them from advancing in their careers.