quiet quitting

/ˈkwaɪət ˈkwɪtɪŋ/
phraseIntermediate
💼Business
informal

The practice of doing the minimum required at work without going above and beyond, often as a form of passive protest against workplace demands.

The company noticed a rise in quiet quitting among employees who felt overworked and underappreciated.

Employees were doing only what was necessary and avoiding extra tasks.

Quiet quitting became a trend on social media as workers shared their experiences of disengaging from work.

People discussed how they stopped putting in extra effort at their jobs.

💡

This term gained popularity in 2022 as a response to workplace burnout and the expectation of unpaid overtime.

Collocations

quiet quitting movementa collective trend of employees disengaging from workquiet quitting trendthe growing practice of doing only the minimum at work

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

loud quittingphrase
publicly resigning or protesting workplace conditions
quiet firingphrase
when employers subtly push employees to leave without direct confrontation

💡Pro Tip

Understanding the Context

Quiet quitting is often a response to burnout, lack of recognition, or unfair workloads.

Gold Rule

Usage in Professional Settings

Use this term carefully in workplace discussions, as it may be perceived as negative or confrontational.

📖Word Origin

The term emerged in 2022 as a combination of 'quiet' (doing something subtly) and 'quitting' (resigning), reflecting passive disengagement from work.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is often used in discussions about workplace culture, employee engagement, and labor rights. It is not literal quitting but rather a shift in work ethic.

Word Breakdown

quiet
done subtly or without drawing attention
root
+
quitting
resigning or disengaging
root
English Dictionary