NH Business Review Column: The Quiet Quitting Reality

Quiet quitting is a new term for workers who do the minimum required hours, constantly watching the clock and stopping at exactly 5 pm. Another aspect are workers expected to work very long hours who might work hard for 40 hours, but are unwilling to go above and beyond.

Either way, the thinking goes, employees can get away with quiet quitting because there is a nationwide labor shortage and unprecedented job security. It is hard to fire someone who is getting some work done, even though it may not measure up to what the boss is hoping for.

There also seems to be a social reckoning on the importance of work to our quality of life. In the past, ideas of status and worth as a person were defined by career choices. Younger people are questioning this with increased emphasis on work-life balance.

Leaders who communicate a clear vision, manage expectations and priorities, and show that they care about their employees have far fewer quiet quitters on their team. Businesses need to do a better job of measuring employee productivity by output rather that micromanaging how people use their time, whether in the office or remotely.

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact! 

You can read more in my recent column in the New Hampshire Business Review here.