Quiet Quitting vs. Quiet Firing: The Silent Battle at Workplace

Conflicts and disagreements are unavoidable in the fast-paced, frequently high-stress, world of work.  Unfortunately, not all workplace battles are fought out in the open. An increasingly common phenomenon in today's corporate landscape is the silent battle between employees and employers: quiet quitting vs. quiet firing. While these terms may sound unfamiliar, they represent the hidden struggles that employees and employers face when dissatisfaction builds up and communication breaks down.

Quiet Quitting vs. Quiet Firing

The concept of “quiet quitting” has been taking social media by storm for quite some time after being introduced by Zaid Khan, a 24-year-old engineer from New York, on TikTok.

“I recently learned about this term called quiet quitting where you're not outright quitting your job, but you're quitting the idea of going above and beyond. 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 labor,” Khan said.

In other words, quiet quitting is simply acting your wage by precisely doing what the job description requires without staying for extra hours or assisting in additional tasks beyond the assigned workload while looking for a new job. Quiet quitters lose their passion for work when bosses choose to turn a blind eye to their efforts and rights, especially in a time when everything costs more than ever. Excess workload, accompanied by poor compensation and lack of management support, are among the top reasons that make employees disengage from work.

The tough living conditions have pushed many employees to choose the easy path of becoming quiet quitters just to receive their salaries by the end of each month because money is needed to survive the cost-of-living crisis and it is not a wise decision to quit a job in the meantime. Those who follow such a path are unmotivated enough not to do beyond the bare minimum expectations of their job because burnout probably broke them for not being emotionally and financially appreciated and valued by their employers.

However, sticking to the quiet quitting approach could put employees at the risk of “quiet firing”. Mostly coined with the quiet quitting phenomenon, quiet firing is basically when employers fail to meet the expectations of workers by intentionally denying their efforts and achievements in the workplace, which eventually force them to look for a new job or quit voluntarily. Bosses notice when employees are not enthusiastic enough about doing more tasks or working for extra hours, and instead of notifying employees of what they think is poor performance or justifying reasons not to pay raise and bonuses, they decide to get rid of unwanted employees by tending to quietly ignore the basic rights of their workers.

Rather than confronting their employees, bosses adhere to the passive-aggressive process of quiet firing by avoiding giving workers honest feedback to improve their performance and criticizing their work while praising others, and use that as an excuse to disregard promotions and raises, which creates an unbearable toxic work environment for workers that is enough to demoralize them on purpose to the extent that they choose to quit with their own free will.

How to Survive the Workplace Drama?

Now with persistent economic pressures, employees are stressed out more than ever as they could be at risk of being fired at any moment. The current global economic conditions have made several workers unmotivated to bring all their energy into work, preferring to be underpaid to being unemployed. However, some workers are not satisfied with being underpaid and choose to act their wage, especially with the absence of incentives. Yet, employees should avoid being quiet quitters because this could affect their whole career by making them more likely to be laid off.

As quiet quitters don’t intend to go beyond the bare minimum of their jobs, their bosses may not hesitate to fire them since they no longer have the passion to do extra work that could help push business forward. At this point, the employee would need to have a word with their bosses and be honest about how they feel. One must be open with their boss about how unrecognized their work is and the way they feel financially undervalued. Setting clear boundaries with the boss that your rights as an employee should be fully respected is a must as well. In return, bosses should be understanding and responsible enough to fulfill their promises to restore employees’ work ethics. In brief, don’t be quiet and speak up your mind.

In case the quiet quitter doesn’t experience any signs of support from their boss, they should start with creating a vibrant environment for themselves at the workplace for motivation. If no one appreciates their work, then they ought to be their own supporter. Rewarding and treating yourself after a long day of work could be also helpful.

 Balancing work and personal life is key to maintaining well-being. Taking breaks, practicing self-care, and seeking support when needed are all crucial for a healthy mind. Additionally, making small changes like decorating your office desk in a positive way can have a significant impact on productivity. Writing positive affirmations on sticky notes and placing them on your desk serves as a constant reminder and inspiration to keep up the good work.

During your work break, it is important to take the time to clear your mind and recharge. This break is an opportunity to step away from your work and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Whether it's enjoying a meal, listening to your favorite music, going for a short walk, or even indulging in a chapter of a book, the choice is yours. By allowing yourself to engage in activities that you enjoy, you are giving yourself the chance to rejuvenate and come back to your work with a fresh perspective.

Additionally, building rapport with your coworkers can have numerous benefits. Engaging in small talk and casual conversations with your colleagues can create a positive and supportive work environment. These interactions not only contribute to good mental health but can also boost productivity. In the workplace, it's essential to maintain a professional atmosphere and avoid gossiping as it can create unnecessary tension among colleagues.