Why are people quiet quitting?

For many of us, the pandemic was a chance to slow down and spend more time at home, whether with family or alone, exploring new hobbies. This gave us a chance to re-evaluate what was important and in some cases, to consider whether our workplace was the right fit and allowed a healthy work-life balance. While this has led to an unprecedented number of employees leaving their jobs due to job dissatisfaction and a search for a better work-life balance, many have instead chosen the approach of quiet quitting.

Gallup’s global workplace report for 2022 showed that only 9% of workers in the UK were engaged or enthusiastic about their work, ranking 33rd out of 38 European countries. The other 91% of unengaged workers are often those who ‘quiet quit’ and, in many cases, signals an eventual desire to move on.

Another recent study by the Development Academy showed 69% of unhappy workers don’t feel valued and was the number 1 reason for being unhappy at work. On the flip-side, of the happy employees, 73% said that the main reason was a good team spirit and enjoying working with their colleagues. One fact is clear from these statistics: employees are only quiet quitting due to a poor workplace environment, and that is something which can be improved.

How can we avoid employees quiet quitting?

In the time of the Great Resignation, due to job dissatisfaction and a search for a better work-life balance, employers are considering what they can do to prevent employees from leaving their jobs or adopting a quiet quitting style of work. Staff going above and beyond is often what helps businesses deliver outstanding customer service, so it’s no wonder it’s been a worry for so many.

Instead of seeing quiet quitting as a trend that’s harming the workplace, employers should see it as an opportunity to improve their workplace environment and culture. As discussed above, those that leave or quiet quit are those who are unhappy at work, and improving on your culture and environment can help alleviate stress and promote a healthy work-life balance.

Employees who receive adequate support from their manager, are given growth opportunities, and are rewarded for their work will be motivated to perform at the highest level. It’s up to employers to create the environment in which that happens.

Here are our top tips for promoting motivation and avoiding quiet quitting in your workplace:

Build trust

Create an environment that fosters open communication and support. Provide private meeting rooms for regular one-to-one meetings, as well as collaboration spaces for regular team meetings where you share ideas and listen to the team and take on board their suggestions.

Daniel Swepson, Head of Marketing at Next Chapter, echoes this tip in his own advice;

“People want to be trusted by their employer, they want to have flexibility and to be treated with fairness as a human being, not like a robot or piece of machinery, and the quiet quitting movement we’re seeing grow is evidence of that.”

Provide autonomy

Give people a choice of how they work and where they work, whether it’s hybrid working or choosing where in the office they sit for the day. Let them decide how best to complete their task depending on the work they are carrying out. As Daniel Swepson explains, offering flexibility is key in a modern office;

“Looking back in history, humans haven’t always worked set days between set times, Monday to Friday 9 to 5 in the grand scheme of things hasn’t been around for that long. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best way for people to be productive. I think what we’re going through now is just another period of industrial change whereby the best way to get productivity and value out of a workforce is to enable them some flexibility to work hours that suit them and in environments that work for them.”

 Celebrating shared achievements

Recognition of hard work, which has paid off and celebrating company milestones is key to boosting morale and making that celebration all that much sweeter, knowing what and how you contributed to the overall business’s success. And celebrating colleagues’ success is a great way to bond and form closer team environments – which, as we mentioned earlier, can have a huge effect on staff happiness.