why doing less at work could be good for you – and your employer
- Written by Nilufar Ahmed, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences, CPsychol, FHEA, University of Bristol
In many offices (not to mention on Zoom, Teams and Slack), employees and managers alike are whispering about the “great resignation”. The UK saw a sharp rise[1] in people quitting their jobs in 2021, and one fifth of UK workers[2] still say they plan to resign in the next year in search of greater job satisfaction and better pay.
If you’re unhappy at work, but leaving your job isn’t an option or there are no appealing alternatives, you may want to try “quiet quitting[3]”. This trend of simply doing the bare minimum expected at work has taken off on TikTok[4] and clearly resonated with young people.
It has also frustrated managers, with some reportedly concerned[5] about their employees slacking off. But quiet quitting is not about avoiding work, it is about not avoiding a meaningful life outside of work.
The last 20 years have seen many people join a global culture of overwork[6], with unpaid labour[7] becoming an expected part of many jobs. After multiple recessions and a global pandemic, millennials and generation z in particular often do not have the same job opportunities and financial security as their parents.
Many young people in professional jobs who expected a relatively straightforward progression in life have struggled with precarious contracts, job uncertainties and trying to get onto the housing ladder. There are those who constantly put in extra hours and go above and beyond at work to try and secure promotions and bonuses – yet still struggle.
Better work relationships
Research shows that happier employees are more productive[22] and engaged[23]. This can even mitigate against feeling distracted or not wanting to be present.
When people are feeling happy they are more likely to be friendlier and open, fostering workplace friendships, which people report as being a significant part of their enjoyment at work[24]. Quiet quitting’s focus on just doing your job also removes the negative impact of constantly feeling in competition[25] with peers.
Read more: How your colleagues affect your home life (and vice versa)[26]
Having workplace friendships taps in to our basic need for a sense of belonging and can in turn increase loyalty to a workplace and improve job performance[27]. All of this can result in greater productivity, which of course means higher profits[28].
Quiet quitting could be a “great liberation” in response to the great resignation. People are rejecting overwork and burnout and choosing balance and joy. They are establishing boundaries so their identity and self-value is not tied to their work productivity.
Instead of getting nervous at loss of productivity, employers should take advantage of the quiet quitting movement to support the wellbeing of their staff. Encouraging a better work-life balance will communicate to workers that they are valued, leading to greater engagement, productivity, and loyalty: everyone wins.
References
- ^ sharp rise (theconversation.com)
- ^ one fifth of UK workers (www.bloomberg.com)
- ^ quiet quitting (www.theguardian.com)
- ^ taken off on TikTok (www.worklife.news)
- ^ reportedly concerned (www.peoplemanagement.co.uk)
- ^ global culture of overwork (www.bbc.com)
- ^ unpaid labour (www.refinery29.com)
- ^ This article is part of Quarter Life (theconversation.com)
- ^ Taking a mental health day can be good for you – here’s how to make the most of one (theconversation.com)
- ^ How to talk to your employer about trauma (theconversation.com)
- ^ ‘Influencer’ is now a popular career choice for young people – here’s what you should know about the creator economy’s dark side (theconversation.com)
- ^ Deloitte (www2.deloitte.com)
- ^ in a variety (www.tandfonline.com)
- ^ of jobs (www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk)
- ^ by employer review website Glassdoor (employeebenefits.co.uk)
- ^ internalised as personal failures (www.bbc.com)
- ^ vicious cycle of overwork and low self-esteem (link.springer.com)
- ^ recognised burnout as an occupational phenomenon (www.who.int)
- ^ mental health impacts (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- ^ Burnout is difficult and costly for individuals and employers (www.covermagazine.co.uk)
- ^ LightField Studios / Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
- ^ happier employees are more productive (www.ox.ac.uk)
- ^ engaged (www.bluevolt.com)
- ^ significant part of their enjoyment at work (www.cnbc.com)
- ^ feeling in competition (www.emerald.com)
- ^ How your colleagues affect your home life (and vice versa) (theconversation.com)
- ^ job performance (www.betterup.com)
- ^ higher profits (blogs.lse.ac.uk)
