Some of you have probably seen (TikTok) or read/heard on other Social Media platforms the term QUIET QUITTING – a label coined in the US. However, this term does not actually translate to “QUITTING YOUR JOB” as we would understand it here in Australia, but rather it’s a term used to describe a “work-to-Rule” practice, whereby the employee works only the hours they are paid to work and performs only the tasks/duties they are trained and employed to do.
The term has become very relevant in the US, primarily due to work conditions, we in Australia, and people in other countries, find unacceptable. For example, lower pay rates, no guaranteed annual leave (although 2 weeks is standard), and a working climate that has thus far, encouraged Employers to expect Employees to work unreasonable hours, and even be on-call during vacation periods, or cancel/miss paid for flights to holiday destinations because the Employer asks the Employee to do so.
So how does Quiet Quitting impact Australians?
While Australian work standards, hourly rates, work expectations etc., are much more realistic, with people earning a living wage and having enough (legislated) annual leave time to enjoy their lives, many Employees will either be pressured, or feel personally required, to work beyond their designated (and paid for) times, arriving earlier, leaving later and even taking work home, just to be ahead of the curve. This is not a situation where an Employee finishes a task, occasionally, to assist a client, or to help a co-worker, or to ensure a target is met, but rather, we are talking about employees who feel obligated to work additional hours.
Being expected to work long hours, ore feeling you must work longer hours, without compensation, can lead to job dissatisfaction, excessive fatigue, anxiety, unnecessary stress, and an unbalanced work/life, leaving the Employee feeling “burnt out” overly exhausted, and possibly causing mental and emotional issues, as well as homelife concerns.
The crux of Quiet Quitting is not quitting your job, but finishing your work, or taking breaks in your workday, as per your designated work schedule and employment agreement, to ensure good mental and physical health.
Feeling exhausted, and unappreciated in your work life, is no different to feeling the same in your private life. Lack of appreciation, recognition, and respect, at work can lead the individual to feel:
- Unmotivated, Uninspired, & Unengaged
2. Reduced patience shown to fellow Employees
3. Disconnected & Disinterested
4. Exhausted & Stressed
5. Overly Sensitive to Constructive Critique
6. Reduced ability to Connect or Communicate with Family/Friends.
Research has shown that countries where there is a healthy work/life balance not only hold on to their valued Employees longer but benefit from Employees actively engaged in the success of the business.
However, narrowminded approaches, where Employers do not see the Nett value of their Employees, beyond how many hours they can work, create a toxic atmosphere that discourages active contribution, often leaving the worker feeling the relationship is all one-sided.
While Quiet Quitting is not yet a phenomenon in Australia, it is easy to see how, given the broad scope & power of Social Media platforms, Employees in Australia, especially those who feel undervalued, and overworked, may start to also engage in this activity. And with there being a shortage of qualified and trained workers in many fields, some Employers may find their workers literally rushing out the door at 5.01pm, with little more than a trailing ‘bye’ as they walk out.
The Employer/Employee relationship should never be looked at as an US/THEM dynamic, therefore, if you’re Employees are starting to share the term Quite Quitting, it may be time to assess the culture of the workplace and employ a more holistic approach.