I’m seeing a lot of posts from employers about how ‘quiet quitting’ is a symptom of “nobody wants to work anymore” and criticizing people for resolving to do the bare minimum in their roles. They talk about how so many of “those kids” will end up in their parents’ basements and on their friends’ couches, not realizing that the current economic conditions have placed many of them there already, with little hope of advancement, no matter how invested they are. Often, employers complain about lack of accountability, lack of responsibility and lack of motivation. On the flip side, I’m seeing posts from employees who routinely describe being overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid, as well as seeing the effects of burnout in my clients across the board, so what is the problem here? There is plenty of blame to go around, but rather than spending time blaming, perhaps it’s time to do a little reflection:
If you’re an employer, what are you doing to actively listen to what your employees are seeking in a work environment? What are you doing to show you care about your employees and their development? How are you demonstrating their value to you daily and affirming them as they add value to your bottom line? Are you paying a living wage, or just expecting your employees to work for the minimum? All these things contribute to your ability to retain and inspire your teams.
If you’re an employee, where are you setting your boundaries around your work? How are you evaluating your fit for the company and role you’re in? How happy are you at your work and how much agency do you have to either shift your attitude or your place of employment? Are you giving real value to the team or are you truly not performing as well as you could? All these things affect your ability to contribute in a meaningful way.
We know that this is both a systemic problem and an individual problem but often, when looking at it from a specific lens, it’s easy to forget the other side – systems are ultimately made of individuals and if we don’t all take a little more responsibility, and reach out to each other to build something together, we won’t get very far. As with most other things, it’s past time for all of us to think about the fact that we’re really all part of the problem and we can all be part of the solution as well.
What are you planning to do today to change your world (and ultimately our world) from your current place in it?