Talent Relationship Management, Explained: A Guide for Recruiters
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You have a talented, hard-working employee at the top of their game. However, you may have noticed that instead of giving 110%, they scaled back to delivering what’s expected in their role and no more.
There could be several reasons for this behavior change; however, they could also be quiet quitting. According to Gallup, quiet quitters make up at least 50% of the U.S. workforce.
Quiet quitting is when an employee only commits to doing what’s included in their roles and responsibilities and no longer puts in extra hours or work. In short, they’re refusing any task outside of their job description.
If you suspect an employee is quietly quitting, have a conversation with them to find out what’s happening.
There are underlying issues that can often be addressed to improve the situation. Here are some tips to help you learn more about quiet quitting and how to prevent it in the workplace.
Understand quiet quitting impact on mental health
From a wellness perspective, quiet quitting impacts mental health. Note that these behaviors can lead to a worker feeling unfulfilled in their career path if left unchecked.
In an article by Healthline, Lee Chambers, a well-being consultant, describes quiet quitting as a coping mechanism to address the likelihood of burnout and chronic overworking. From a mental health perspective, Lee describes the benefits of quiet quitting.
“Quiet quitting can improve boundary setting, as well as helping people step away from toxic productivity,” Chambers notes.
Conversely, quiet quitting can also have an impact on your mental health in a negative way. According to Chambers, quiet quitting may also have a detrimental effect on feelings of personal fulfillment.
“Quietly quitting would likely lower our sense of engagement, purpose, and satisfaction, which are factors in our mental and physical well-being,” he explains. This can make employees feel that their role was pointless.
How to stop quiet quitting
According to Forbes, several things can be done to stop quiet quitting. One solution suggested in the post is to rethink how we work.
It’s no secret that how we manage employees has shifted in a post-pandemic world, and preventing burnout is important. Today, companies can and should offer employees flexible work hours and hybrid-working options.
Another suggestion for quelling quiet quitting is to start at the leadership level. The leadership team can lead by example and show that boundaries are encouraged by not working overtime and taking vacations.
Prevent Quiet Quitting Today
If you’ve noticed that your employees are quietly quitting, you can use the following actions to prevent quiet quitting and ensure that your team has a morale boost.
- Encourage employees to take breaks and use their vacation time.
- Promote a healthy work-life balance by encouraging employees to disconnect from work when they’re not at the office.
- Encourage employees to speak up if they feel overwhelmed or unhappy with their workload.
- Ensure employees feel their opinions are valued, and their input is welcomed.
- Ensure employees feel like they are part of a team and that their contributions are appreciated.
- Celebrate successes and milestones as a team, and encourage everyone to have fun.
Another strategy to prevent quiet quitting is to check in with your team to ensure they feel supported. Think about how they can continue their work while finding meaning in their job.
Download The Recruiter’s Guide to Internal Mobility to learn more about how to boost employee engagement.
