It is all the rage for young workers. No, not the Great Resignation, but timid work slowdowns, also known as Quiet Quitting. Gen-Z, age group 18-25 has opted to minimize right to the point of winning the award for least productive employee. Ok that might be a bit harsh, but do not be surprised to find this generation’s version of a slacker to be your invisible minimal effort warm bodies who wind down the day watching the clock.

On one hand, this is not just a rant. If you check out @zkchillin on TikTok. You will see the range of comments and memes extolling just how important it is to find the least common denominator for work effort. Some examples: 

“I quiet quit 6 months ago and guess what, same pay. same recognition, same everything but less stress.” 

 “Do only what is in your job description and only is expected at the bare minimum, unless you enjoy your work.” 

 “Work is not your life. Your worth is not defined by your productive outlook” 

 One comment did attempt to make a business argument:

 “It’s called “meeting expectations” if you’re doing more than this you are losing time and money” 

On the other hand. 

These comments are a result of people not fitting in the role they have accepted. And with the value of work minimalized by their attitude, it really is just a job. And any job will do. Life happens after work. It is true that many of this latest workforce generation look to their employer for social relevancy, commitment to making the world better, being ware of social injustices and playing a role to improve society where they do business. All good. 

But when they land a job that is to them simply a paycheck and some benefits, then they start watching clock, checking out and tuning into their own life. But why even accept a job where those desires go unfilled, and perhaps they were never even promised! 

Who is fleecing who?

Fine. 

It just seems that the inability to know when to step up and help the company, your colleagues make the business successful is awfully immature. As an article by Cloey Callahan of worklife writes:  

“…giving 110% is out the door because workers want to avoid exhaustion and ditch stressful jobs that expect them to do more than what’s in their job description. And it’s Generation Z workers — those aged up to 24 years old — who seem the keenest to embrace it.”

Hard to imagine the world’s problems getting addressed when getting to Yoga class is more important than finishing the work that might need to be done and making the extra effort to do it. As the old saying goes, 

‘Hire slow. Fire fast”

 https://www.tiktok.com/@zaidleppelin/video/7125214828733664558 

https://www.worklife.news/culture/quiet-quitting/