“Quiet quitting” is a relatively new term but not a new concept. The phrase first gained popularity on Tik Tok, where people have used it to describe feeling overwhelmed and overworked until they no longer try and only do the bare minimum to get by. These employees may be in the process of job-hunting, yet they don’t convey to their employer that they intend to leave. Other times, these employees don’t plan on quitting, but they lack the motivation to exceed expectations.
This trend is troubling because it signals a disconnect between employers and staff. The root of the issue isn’t that employees refuse to work. Instead, quiet quitting is often caused by a lack of job satisfaction, an unpleasant work environment, feeling undervalued or unappreciated, or simply the desire for something new. If you’re a business owner struggling with quiet quitting among your workforce, learn more about what this term means and how to prevent it.
Quiet quitting, also known as “silent quitting” or “silent resignation,” is a phenomenon that occurs when an employee becomes so disengaged and dissatisfied with their job that they mentally check out and stop putting forth any effort. The disgruntled employee continues showing up, but their work quality and productivity decline, and they become less involved in company culture and initiatives. These employees often end up quitting without giving any indication or notice, leaving their employer in a bind.
It’s important for employers to recognize the signs of quiet quitting and address the underlying issues. Here are seven tips to prevent workers from disengaging or quitting their jobs.
· Offer competitive compensation and benefits: If any quiet quitters on your team are job-hunting, the first thing they’ll do is compare their wages and benefits to other opportunities out there. If your overworked staff is also underpaid, this makes the decision to leave that much easier. Prevent this by ensuring your compensation and benefits packages are on par with or above the competition.
· Create a positive work environment: When employees have positive relationships with their coworkers and leaders, they develop a sense of belonging and are more likely to put in effort every day. Employers can make the office a pleasant and positive place to be by promoting teamwork and collaboration, offering team-building activities, and promptly addressing disputes or harassment.
· Make employees feel valued: Quiet quitters tend to feel overlooked and that their work is unappreciated. To boost morale, try enacting employee recognition strategies, such as celebrating achievements and milestones with gift cards or providing positive reinforcement through reward points that workers can redeem any way they wish.
· Keep workload increases short-term: In a perfect world, employees would always have a steady, predictable, and manageable workload, but this isn’t always the case. If your industry is plagued by “feast or famine” workloads, know that most employees are willing to put in extra hours during the busy season. But don’t abuse this willingness, or your workers could check out. Keep increased responsibilities as short-lived as possible and offer extra incentives for a job well done.
· Maintain open communication: Employers should also communicate openly with their employees. Regular check-ins can help identify any issues before they become serious problems. Make sure your employees feel comfortable discussing any concerns they have about their job or work environment, and actively listen and take steps to address those concerns.
· Maintain a healthy work-life balance: When work is stressful, with long hours and impossible expectations, employees are more likely to become quiet quitters. To encourage a better work-life balance, offer flexible schedules, provide opportunities for remote work, and reward your top performers with random paid personal days.
· Prioritize employee development: Quiet quitting tends to set in when employees feel like there’s no room for growth and advancement. Make it possible for your workers to move up within the company whenever possible. Then, demonstrate that their success is important to you by offering professional development opportunities in the form of paid training or mentorship programs.
Quiet quitting can significantly impact business productivity and success. With these tips to prevent quiet quitting, you can help keep your team more engaged and motivated to excel. Marketing Innovators can help your employees feel recognized with great prices on bulk gift cards, corporate gift boxes, reward codes, branded merchandise, and other products.
Our mission for the past 40 years has been to drive human connections by recognizing and rewarding employees to ensure they have a sense of belonging and purpose. With our help, the quiet quitters on your team will become more satisfied with their work and happy to contribute their best efforts. To learn more about our employee engagement and recognition company, please call 800-453-7373 or contact us online.
