Skip to main content

Quiet Quitting: The Latest Trend is Nothing New

In a society that loves its trends, there’s one that’s making a splash in the workplace these days: Quiet Quitting. Unfortunately, we’ve got bad news for the “trendsetters” who’ve adopted this phenomenon – it’s actually been around forever. 

Employees who participate in quiet quitting do just enough work to get by, and nothing more. They’re not seeking to raise the bar on their performance, to generate superior results, or to stand out from their colleagues. They’re merely putting in 40 hours a week, collecting a paycheck, and calling it a day. 

The reality is this is nothing new. It’s the result of employees becoming disengaged, typically because employers aren’t doing enough to take care of them. While companies should always demonstrate they value their workers, it’s even more important to do so in the current climate, when professionals have so many job opportunities at their disposal. Here are 4 ways employers can show their appreciation and keep their employees engaged. 

1) Pay fair compensation. The days where employees were fortunate to have a job are gone. Now, a competitive salary and strong benefits package are a bare minimum. And that means not only at the time someone is hired, but throughout their tenure. Regular pay raises and new benefit offerings are essential to ensuring employees remain on board for the long term.

2) Manage employee workload. This is becoming an increasingly important issue at a time when so many organizations are short-staffed. Job duties must be aligned with adequate time and resources to perform them. When employees are overwhelmed with responsibilities, and see no end in sight, you can bet they’ll begin looking for escape routes. 

3) Offer flexibility. If we learned one thing during the pandemic, it’s that employees want flexibility in how and where they work – and given that, they will still get the job done. Keep in mind, flexibility can mean different things to different people, from working remote or hybrid schedules, to varied start and end times, to compressed work weeks. Talk to your team to determine how to align their desires with your needs.

4) Prioritize culture. More than ever, employees want to work for companies that stand for something more than profits. They’re seeking employers that are supportive, that recognize their contributions, and that make a difference in people’s lives and/or their communities. If that’s your organization, now is the time to shout those attributes from the rooftops.

Addressing these areas is a surefire way to keep employees engaged and reduce the chances of becoming a victim of quiet quitting. The professionals at Alaant have the expertise and experience to help companies solve these issues and keep their talented employees happy and productive. Need some help making it happen? Contact us today and let’s get the conversation started!

About the Author

Miriam Dushane

Miriam Dushane, Managing Partner

Miriam is all in when it comes to doing whatever she can to help the Capital District grow and thrive. She is passionate about helping talented professionals find the right job and her work in the community is focused on furthering our area as a center of economic vitality. Miriam likes to garden and care for her pets. She is a member of an adult-only skate group where she rollerblades every week. She loves the Mets! And she is obsessed with vacuum cleaners; she really likes to vacuum and has 6 right now.