- "Quiet quitting" is a loosely defined trend that's taken the workplace by storm.
- Insider spoke to three careers experts about the trend.
'Quiet quitting' is a move that's become an increasingly talked-about and attractive option for some members of the workforce.
The idea is loosely defined, incorporating everything from high-achieving employees taking their foot off the gas at work to workers only putting in enough effort to avoid getting canned. One study found that around half of workers in the US consider themselves to have "quiet quit" in some capacity. Some observers have decried the practice as "slacking," while others have welcomed the trend as a means of going against the grain of "hustle culture."
But for those employees who are "quiet quitting" because they are feeling overwhelmed and upset on the job — as opposed to those setting healthy boundaries with their employer — experts say that there are better alternatives out there. Insider interviewed three careers experts about how workers can improve their lot without having to resort to "quiet quitting."
Here's what they had to say:
Establish an open line of communication your manager
If you're feeling stressed to the point that "quiet quitting" sounds like a good option, it may be time for a talk with your boss.
"I'm a huge proponent of both employees and leaders collaborating and communicating," executive coach and "Strategic Jaywalking: The Secret Sauce to Life & Leadership Excellence" author Jay McDonald told Insider.
For employees on decent terms with their boss, McDonald advocated for having a conversation about issues like overwork and burnout. By getting your manager in your corner, you could establish a powerful ally in the push to achieve a happier work life. But in order to go through with this step, you need to already have a boss who is willing to listen and communicate.
"I believe more leaders should have what I would call an open-ears policy," McDonald said. "They're willing to listen and listen to learn, not just to respond. They genuinely care about their employees and their employees' welfare."
Ask for a raise
Some quiet-quitters may be motivated by the feeling that they are unappreciated and poorly compensated. McDonald said that by taking inventory of the work you're doing, you can "come up with ideas" around compensation to share with your manager.
A conversation could involve noting that certain tasks often require a "different pay grade," and that your income should match your work.
Negotiate perks like permanent work-from-home status
But there are other valuable gains — other than a higher salary — that could make a difference. Namely, major shake-ups like permanent work-from-home status could erase the need to quiet-quit.
University of New Haven management and psychology lecturer Mo Cayer told Insider that some "quiet-quitters" may have "... discovered, 'I can get 80% of the satisfaction out of my work life but I only have to spend half as much the time.'"
Cayer spoke of his personal experience commuting from Connecticut to New York City for 30 years
"I used to deceive myself by saying the train rides are not that bad," he said. "Now people have woken up. You know what? There are other choices where they don't have to commute as much."
By securing a life-changing benefit like permanent work-from-home status, employees can take more personal time to spend on hobbies and family, thus eliminating the need to "quiet-quit" for some workers.
Cut out busywork
By identifying key tasks and goals, employees are better equipped to cut out "busywork" and focus on what matters. That may leave many with more time on their hands.
"I used to tell many of my employees, 'I don't really care when you come to work or when you leave, as long as you get your job done and do it satisfactorily,'" McDonald said.
He added that "saying no" to unproductive tasks is also a powerful move for burnt-out workers. That could mean anything from declining busywork that's not in your job description or opting out of time-wasting meetings and updating team members with a quick email instead. By speaking with your bosses about maximizing your time, you can also make the case for bringing in teammates or even more junior employees to take care of certain tasks.
"Sometimes the leaders are the last to know, if they don't have their thumb on the pulse of what's going on," he said. "They may not even realize how much time somebody is putting in, especially if they don't physically see them regularly."
Workers who nix busywork and only focus on important wins are not only staving off burnout, but possibly setting themselves up for praise or a raise.
Consider whether your job is a good fit
"If you really just are loathing going into work, then what is it about it that you loathe?" "Miserable At Work? Why? You Don't Have To Be" author and business consultant George Nagle told Insider. "If somebody says, 'Well, everything,' well, you just might be generally miserable."
Nagle said that if there's truly nothing you find redeemable about your work, then it may be time for a major change. Either way, that process of self-discovery will require brutal honesty.
Incorporate more breaks into your work life
Nagle likened a stressful work-life situation to getting caught in a rushing river.
"When we're in that river and it's moving really fast, we're adding all sorts of stress because we're just constantly on the go," he said.
But by baking breaks into the workday, we can avoid burnout and even improve the quality of our work. Nagle likened the phenomenon to getting great ideas in the shower.
"When we're doing things like taking a shower, we're almost kind of on autopilot," Nagle said. "That's where we get those ideas because our brain has an opportunity to de-stress and we're not thinking about work necessarily, but something just strikes us. That's where people get that inspiration to move things forward."