Every now and then, the business press lifts up a new term. Sometimes with insight, but often without it. The new term usually falls under the broad heading ‘workers who won’t work as hard as bosses want them to work.’ If nothing else, ‘quiet quitting’ slots comfortably within this framework.
And why shouldn’t the business press play it this way? Who reads the business press? Not just the bourgeoisie (though, of course, the bourgeoisie). Middle managers, project managers, and various elements aspiring to that status also read it. Collectively, they fear and loathe nothing more than the worker who won’t work as hard as bosses want them to work.
The business press plays to this fear and loathing. When workers are quiet quitting, then by gum, they’d better write an article about it! Even if they aren’t quiet quitting, maybe they’d better write an article about it anyway. After all, they could do so in the future.
And the aforementioned eyeballs will turn to the page.
