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You've might've heard of the new term "quiet quitting".
In another attempt to highlight just how much employees desire work-life balance, quiet quitting has quickly gained momentum on social media, particularly among Gen Z.
Despite what the name suggests, quiet quitting has nothing to do with leaving your job and not telling anyone.
It actually refers to the rejection of hustle culture, and simply doing what is required of you in your professional role.
Not staying after hours. Not answering phone calls on weekends. Not doing what isn't in your position description.
Just... yeah, doing your job.
TikTok creator Zaid Khan (@zkchillin) posted a video about his own discovery of the term in late July. The clip has since amassed over three million views.
"You're not outright quitting your job, but you're quitting the idea of going above and beyond," Khan explained in the video.
"You're still performing your duties, but you're no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life.
"The reality is it's not, and your worth as a person is not defined by your labour."
Jessie further explained that in recent years, going above and beyond has become so expected of employees that the 'above and beyond' has only gotten more and more ridiculous, with people working overtime and on weekends, leaving little time for friends or family.
"We have to be clear about expectations," she said.
"If you have a business which relies on employees working overtime and sacrificing their lives in order to do their job, then your business is built on quicksand.
"You'll have people who burn out and quit."
Don't get me wrong - being a Gen Z writer myself, I love a new term I can cling on to.
I like the sound of rejecting corporate culture. But this isn't new.
If you want to hustle, hustle. And if you just want to make some coin to afford rent, food and your lifestyle, then go ahead and lean out.
But can we stop creating these terms for the sake of content and gratification? Because that in itself is exhausting to keep up with.
Feature image: Canva/Mamamia.
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