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.
What is Quiet Quitting? Two (or More?) Options
So, all is well and good in the world of the business press. At least, until we bother asking what in the world anyone means by ‘quiet quitting.’
When I read the articles, I come up with two basic possibilities. Other options look like variations on these two. So, what are they?
The first route defines ‘quiet quitting’ as something like ‘when people stop saying ‘yes’ to every work request and, instead, focus more on the core parts of their job.’ Attentive readers will surely recognize that this definition fails to go beyond standard HR platitudes. So, not only does quiet quitting, on this definition, fail to challenge the status quo. It makes for a kind of ‘radlib‘ style deference to the status quo.
The second route defines ‘quiet quitting’ as ‘when people do no more than the minimum required for the job or what’s in their contract or job description.’ Now that’s more interesting. Some readers point out, of course, that probably all workers should always be doing this. For my part, I think awareness of this kind of quiet quitting could help workplace organizing efforts.
Well…Is It a Thing?
So, is ‘quiet quitting’ a thing? The short answer is ‘eh, sort of.’ Some people are doing it. But, as used in public discourse, it’s yet another business term pitched at managers. Perhaps attention to the term could make some small contribution to organizing. I wouldn’t bet on it, though.
