Quiet quitting: how doing the bare minimum at work may save your job

Australians are doing the bare minimum at work to avoid getting the sack, as part of a global movement known as quiet quitting. But experts warn it could backfire on some workers.

Australians are doing the bare minimum at work to avoid getting the sack, as part of a global

movement known as quiet quitting.

The concept, which emerged on TikTok last month, encourages employees not to let work

take over their lives by setting strict boundaries that include refusing to answer work emails

and calls after hours, leaving the office on time and not undertaking projects that fall outside

their job description.

Already, the movement has a strong following in Australia, says workplace expert Dee Egan.

“It’s really about reassessing priorities and it’s a reaction against the whole leaning into your

career all the time and the necessity to always be on and doing more than the minimum to get

ahead,” she says.

PROS AND CONS

Egan, founder of HerWerk, a career platform for women, says quiet quitting is most popular

amongst young workers and those with young families who resent the intrusion work has on

their personal lives.

She believes the trend has merit for those who previously prioritised work at the

expense of their mental health, or their family’s wellbeing, but says quiet quitting should not

be used by workers to justify a lack of interest in their job.

“It’s one thing if you are doing it because you are trying to set healthy boundaries and take

annual leave, or even lunch breaks, without feeling guilty,” Egan says.

“But if you’re doing it because you are no longer motivated in your role, or your workplace

is toxic, then obviously it’s time to reassess your role and look for the next one.”

Experts warn quiet quitting should not be used by workers to justify a lack of interest in their job.

Egan warns quiet quitting could have significant ramifications on long-term career prospects

and says those considering the move should discuss it with their boss.

“Obviously if you’re wanting to stay in an organisation, and you want to be promoted there,

then quiet quitting is not the best solution unless you are only talking about setting those

healthy boundaries,” she says.

RIGHT MIX

Rohan Hocking, marketing and membership manager at the Australian Institute of

Conveyancers (SA division), is often required to work back after hours to attend board

meetings and training sessions.

But he says he would never consider not putting in the extra hours required, citing the

satisfaction he gets from a job well done and the ability to recoup those hours by starting late

or finishing early on other days.

“I get where some people (who have adopted the quiet quitting trend) are coming from if

they have chosen to go down a path of doing 50 hours a week but I have never chosen a role

that had that expectation to it so I have never lived that way,’’ says Hocking, who has a

young daughter.

“You only get one shot at spending time with your children, so it’s important to me to get

that work-life balance right.”

Rohan Hocking has never considered quiet quitting but understands how others might if they need better work life balance.

BROKEN PROMISES

Gartner HR vice president Aaron McEwan says workers have been let down by their

employers, forcing a reassessment of priorities during the pandemic.

“People haven’t been getting promoted and they have not been getting pay rises – in many

ways, employers have not kept their end of the employment contract which says that if you

work hard, you get more opportunities,” he says.

“We went through a period where people’s identities were so wrapped up in what they did

(at work) that they couldn’t separate (work from their personal life) but the pandemic has

made people realise there’s more to life than work, and there’s more to me than my job, and

that’s a good thing.

“What I hope comes out of this is we get to a place where employees personal boundaries are

respected and where wage growth is back on the agenda to fairly compensate people for the

work they are doing.”

The pandemic has made some people realise there is more to them than just their job.

BALANCING ACT

Reclaim your life – how to prevent work intruding on your personal time:

• Do what’s required – Workers that are unprofessional or who fail to carry out

the tasks required in their job description risk being fired. Above everything

else, make sure the duties you reject are not key to your role.

• Establish boundaries – Determine what you will do to adopt a healthier work-life

balance. For example, you may opt out of extra duties that go beyond your job

description or refuse to answer work-related calls and emails after hours.

• Talk to your boss – If they are aware you are struggling, employers may help to

reprioritise, delegate or eliminate certain tasks from your workload.

• Review your options – If you still cannot separate work from your home life, it

may be necessary to look for a new job that aligns with your priorities.