How 'Quiet Quitting' Became The Next Phase Of The Great Resignation

"Quiet quitting" is having a moment. The trend of employees choosing to not go above and beyond their jobs in ways that include refusing to answer emails during evenings or weekends, or skipping extra assignments that fall outside their core duties, is catching on, especially among Gen Zers.

Zaid Khan, 24, an engineer from New York, popularized this trend with his viral Tiktok video in July.

"You are still performing your duties, but you are no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentally that work has to be our life," Khan says in his video. "The reality is, it's not, and your worth as a person is not defined by your labor."

In the U.S., quiet quitting could also be a backlash to so-called hustle culture — the 24/7 startup grind popularized by figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and others.

"Quiet quitting is an antidote to hustle culture," said Nadia De Ala, founder of Real You Leadership, who "quietly quit" her job about five years ago. "It is almost direct resistance and disruption of hustle culture. And I think it's exciting that more people are doing it."

Last year, the Great Resignation dominated the economic news cycle. Now, during the second half of 2022, it's the quiet quitting trend that's gaining momentum at a time when the rate of U.S. productivity is raising some concern. Data on U.S. worker productivity posted its biggest annual drop in the second quarter.

So, why is this trend on the rise? Watch the video above to learn whether quiet quitting is hurting the U.S. economy and how it's being seen as part of the Great Resignation narrative.

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online

#cnbc

How 'Quiet Quitting' Became The Next Phase Of The Great Resignation

[MoonFoxASMR]

Not responding after 5 isn’t “quiet quitting”, it’s having clear boundaries.

[OptimumSlinky]

The fact it’s even called “quiet quitting” is gaslighting. If you want 50, 60 hours of work out of your employees, then pay them for 50-60 hours of work. Companies refuse to raise salaries to match inflation then complain when employees won’t give them free after-hours labor.

[liamniedrich]

"If you're quiet quitting, you're definitely not working for me!"

That's the point.

[fantasyfiction]

My boss at my current job “lectured” me for checking my email when I got home from vacation, telling me just to wait for my next shift. That’s the kind of company you should be working for, ones that respect your work life balance.

[nissa]

"Quiet Quitting" is basically just asserting your boundaries with your employer and not being taken advantage of, period.

[tilmunsword]

Businesses like to call it “quiet quitting” bc they want us to feel bad about not working for free.

[Florencecoxx]

“Most overworked and most underpaid generation”. Never rang more true.

[celesteleeann]

Hard work gets rewarded with more work.

[Clmaria]

Ah yes, "quiet quitting".
Also known as "respecting the time for your own personal life."

[cteal]

For years...bosses kept saying, "if you don't like you job, then quit."

Guess what, we all took that advice.

[LittleWalrus]

If companies want employees to go above and beyond then the company also has to go above and beyond.

[chrislim]

People are realizing working then dying isn't a great plan; and buying yourself stuff in between to make yourself feel better doesn't work anymore.

[anasantanaleon]

Unbelievable how CNBC managed to turn this issue in favour of companies. Quiet quitting does not mean we don't work, it means we set boundaries. It's called a 9/5, not a 24/7.
Dislike

[Jinx-igfz]

Doing your shift and going home should not be seen as a bad thing. I do whats in my job description to stay employed and that's it. I've gone above and beyond and that was at a low paying job with no upside. This is not a generational issue, this is just people waking up and not wanting to be exploited anymore.

[luciacoeto]

It should be "people don't want to be slaves anymore! " Instead of "people don't want to work anymore" Many people, particularly the younger generation, use a range of unconventional methods of earning a living these days. I worked in the retail for over 10 years, so l'm quite happy that this is taking place. For too long, retail bullied me and a lot of my employees/colleagues saying things like "if you don't like it, go; another like you is waiting to get into your position " since the COVID, I found a job that helps me grow, pays me more and Values Me Social media cleared the way for a rapidly expanding market, and it taught us a lot. 2020 was my turning point, and investment helped alot!

[kortyEdna]

My retirement account has gone down by 13.7% in the past year due to rebalancing I did out of fear uncertainty and doubt. What are best alternatives to take in other to secure a financially free retirement and achieve ultimate peace? I don’t want to fail after 42 years of working hard.

[kingoftheleos]

I used to work a job where I honestly gave 120% everyday. When Covid happened, I was working 15-17 hours a day making sure we were always ahead of the work flow. When raise time came around, my manager explained that the “top performer” raise was unobtainable because perfect people don’t exist, and I got the same raise that my coworkers who only did their 8 hours got. That was one of the most disheartening lessons that I ever learned. I’m now that guy that warns new people against going above and beyond, to me quiet quitting is the epitome of working smarter not harder.

[uniquehorn]

Kevin O'leary: "If you're a quiet quitter, you're not working for me."
Me: "Sounds good."

[mikehawke]

Don't ask for time off any more, you earned the time, just take it. Quiet quitting is exposing that these companies need employees more than we need them.

[confidentsuccessfulwomen]

Quiet quitting is a stress response. When you feel disrespected by your employer you might lash out at other employees (fight response). When you feel disengaged, you don't participate in work events (flight response). When you feel anxious or fearful from a manager who is demanding (freeze response). When you feel you have to do it all (fawning response). Basically all your energy is in survival and you don't have the capacity to go beyond the parameters of a regular work day. The cortisol is flowing through your body for 8 hours straight - this is not normal for the human body.