What Is Quiet Quitting?
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What Is Quiet Quitting?
Quiet quitting describes an employee doing exactly what their job requires — no more, no less — after mentally disengaging from going "above and beyond." It isn't actually quitting the job; it's quietly stepping back from unpaid overtime, extra projects and the emotional investment the role used to get, while still meeting the basic requirements.
Why Quiet Quitting Happens
It typically shows up after prolonged burnout, unclear or unrewarded extra effort, poor management, or a sense that career growth and pay aren't tracking with the work being put in. Rather than raise these issues directly or resign, employees quietly recalibrate their effort to match what they feel is being fairly compensated.
What Businesses Can Do About It
For businesses, quiet quitting is usually a symptom rather than the root problem — it points to gaps in recognition, workload distribution, career pathing or management quality. Addressing it works better through honest conversations about expectations and growth than through monitoring or pressure, since the behaviour is a response to feeling under-valued, not a productivity problem on its own.