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Hustle culture is out; quiet quitting is in. As a result of the Great Resignation, many employees have taken up the art of doing just enough — nothing more, nothing less. While this may seem great for the individual’s intentions, what does this mean for the rest of society?
By Amber Louis
TAMPA, Fla. — Picture a typical 9-to-5 office job position, where you commute, clock in on time, do some tasks, take some breaks, clock out on the dot, and head home. Without doing anything more or anything less, that’s the picture of what quiet quitting is.
Essentially, it’s the opposite of hustle culture. Instead of chasing promotions and raises by working your tail off and making your job the priority in your life, you do the absolute bare minimum to maintain your position.
The Great Resignation, the elevated rate of U.S. workers who left their jobs after the COVID-19 pandemic, has been theorized to have two phases. The first being the initial rise of unemployment following the pandemic, and the second being quiet quitting.
So, who’s to blame for this lack of drive to want to succeed? For one, companies’ expectations of their employees seem to exceed the payroll they are willing to give out. Going the extra mile to impress your boss while getting the same treatment as your coworker in the cubicle over who has already quietly quit might leave you at a roadblock.
In a study by Willem Roper examining the Economic Policy Institute on Statista, research shows that productivity levels have risen over nearly eight decades before COVID-19, while wages have seemed to stagnate.
Data courtesy of Economic Policy Institute via Statista.
Without the spiraling stress of putting in overtime and making work your number one priority, there’s more room in day-to-day life to devote your time to other important aspects of an individual’s life.
Maybe a quiet quitter could pick up an enjoyable side hustle, like online selling and trading or crafting. There’s a sudden space for a new hobby, or to enjoy more of the things that you do off the clock.
One YouTube user commented on content related to quiet quitting.
@kellyjacobs4114 wrote, “I quit, and it has been the best thing ever. I don’t hate my job, I don’t slack at my job. I simply do my job to the best of my ability during work hours and don’t give all the extra hours. I have new hobbies and friends… I think this is a wonderful trend. It is time the workers no longer buy into hustling to make the CEO rich while your life withers away for some phony recognition. I no longer suffer from anxiety or insomnia. I don’t get riled up by work dramas. I actually like my job more now because it is in its proper position. Just a job, not my life’s meaning.”
It’s simply about doing your job and being content with that baseline. It’s the comfort zone of a secure position that covers your expenses and offers good benefits, appealing to those who feel overlooked or underappreciated.
Despite this recognition of doing the bare minimum, I’ve always had the drive to achieve highly, as high rewards tend to follow. The working American used to be trained to reach for the stars, but now they’re being told to stay grounded to protect their peace.
I grew up with parents who came from little to no money, who now run a successful, profitable distribution company. Why is it so rare to see people like my folks anymore?
Instead of being the best at the position at hand, it tends to be more protective of an employee’s mental health to just do the job. The stability you feel for just doing what you must and using your energy towards life’s other values is the common thought in quiet quitting. In the end, you are doing exactly what you’re asked of.
Nevertheless, this could be a huge problem for our generation. If everyone begins to fall into the pattern of mediocrity, where will the best politicians, the newest innovations, the most divine cuisine, and the greatest ideas come from? Where are the go-getters?