Why China's Gen Zs And Millennials Are ‘Quiet Quitting’: The ‘Bai Lan’ Movement

“If my boss asks me to do something, I’ll ask if I can do it tomorrow, or if someone else can do it." That's Chinese youths' ‘bai lan’ mantra of not even trying.

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[johnconnor]

I worked so hard at my first job when I graduated college. I gave it 100%. My boss noticed and praised me and gave me more and more responsibility. I thought, man this is working, I'm gonna be promoted. After 2 years of giving 100%, I got a $50 Starbucks card as appreciation for saving the company I worked for thousands of dollars. I never got the promotion, just more responsibility. I promised to never work hard again after that.

[moira]

This is happening world wide. Unfortunately the young generation isn't reaping the benefits of hard work pays off. Peoppe worling full time jobs, starting side hustles and can bately make rent let alone afford to buying a house. At some point you do start to question is it worth it all??

[jerryrichardson]

This is a problem in the US. Employers did _everything_ they could to make getting a raise, promotion, or changing jobs as hard as they could, deliberately in my opinion. They slashed HR departments, increased the amount of contract work, etc. Looking for a job is still way too time consuming and expensive. Employers are starting to pay, finally. This is what lead to quiet quitting.

[BerserkManga]

Idk why "quiet quitting" is just now being talked about. I've done it almost my entire adult worklife. So has millions of others every year.

[BorahaeBitch]

I totally get it. I'm a Boomer in the US and I don't want to work hard either. I've worked hard for many years at the expense of both my physical and mental health. I'm now at a point in my life where peace of mind is my priority. I do the bare minimum that is expected of me and I live a simple life. And I'm so much more happier than I ever was running the rat race.

[GenNextAnalyst]

There is no point racing to the top when we don't bear children. Furthermore, working hard is always benefitting the top level more rather than us.

[abcegf]

I’m actually very proud and supportive of this movement!! People can’t even find job and when you do you work off your whole time with a salary that can barley pay for your rent and food!!

Things must change otherwise no one should work and let it rot !!

[danielsoosay]

Quiet quitting is the product of giving so much stress to people where they just want out.

[nothanksnopenoname]

Maybe employers should pay workers for their extra effort. Stop expecting workers to always go above and beyond for no extra pay. Workers only have to do what is listed as their duties when they took the job. They don’t have to go above and beyond if they don’t want to.
Pay workers better. Pay them extra for extra effort, give pay raises to those who keep going above and beyond. Offer promotions to those workers as well.
Stop bitching when a worker only does what they are required to based on their listed duties when hired.
People get sick of doing extra work for no extra pay or change of promotions.

[GKP]

Average workers everywhere are fed up of being exploited while upper management makes millions.

[jon_nomad]

It's not about saying no to the government... it's saying no to society and realism of life. It's a worldwide phenomenon especially highly urbanized regions.

[johnmongver]

As a young person myself, it's so frustrating that no matter how hard we try, even if we graduate from a top university or enter a high-paying job, it's always not enough. It is more crazy because as some people have excel in life, it gets harder and harder for the majority to improve their living condition, which further worsens the situation. We must recognize the system is corrupt and needs to be changed, but the government is just kowtowing to the demands of the capitalists. Fvck this!

[moneyprinter]

whats really depressing is you can have a very descent job but still live paycheck to paycheck. The earning are barely enough to pay mortgages and loans, you cannot enjoy life anymore.

[haroonmohammed]

Well, as a hard working person, who was moulded into working hard for others and not himself, I say that this is a good approach. If you care too much and work too hard, there are gonna be ppl who would wanna try to manipulate the hardworkers, to leech off of them.

Bare minimum to get by is more than enough when you work for others.
But for yourself, work hard.

[joshuamak]

I love you all for rebelling against being treated like an npc, we all deserve better.
I think being treated better has something to do with actually being engaged with life, your surroundings, people and the natural environment.
I’m typing this out lying down in bed as a 22yo who’ll be kicked out of home when I’m 24 but I’m aiming for the best I can imagine.
I hope for not just Chinese people but all people who want and deserve better that they get a life that engages and calls forth the best of them. I mean technically nobody is obligated to live so why not make the most of it while we are here?

[crestfire]

Every generation goes through shifts in values as old values prove to be obsolete. Hard work no longer pays off. It no longer garuntees success

[MsSecrets]

I hate working hard. I especially hate working to someone else's tune because they want me to work hard. I'm only productive for 5 hours a day. I do work then and after I do whatever I want. Working on rebuilding my business. I tried working hard to build it in my early 20s and failed. I'm working smart now and at my own pace. It's been a lot more organized.

[mikearisbrocken]

I worked hard for a company for 3 and a half years. In my last year I closed around 70 engineering changes, which was like 60% of the rest of my team combined, and yet I was randomly selected to be let go due to corporate restructuring. After that I got into a job that was fun but was consuming me, after six months believing I was going to be promoted and finally be paid better they said “good job, you met expectations for someone who has 6 months working here, in the next 6 months you are expected to do twice than that.” After that I quit and got into a job where I was asked to drive two projects at the same time, i did it succesfully and yet my supervisor asked for even more. No more, no matter how much I get paid (which now is kinda decent) I wont sacrifice myself no more. It is never worth it.

[amaljoe]

the CEO of Bombay shaving company made a statement that youth should work 18 hours a day for initial 5 yesrs. This is the mentality of most companies these days. They hire more people, pay less and make them work till they break...then keep hiring more.

[incarus]

They realized that life is about living, not about competition.