Table of Contents

Quiet quitting is popular among other online trends as a way to manage workplace settdissatisfaction. Are you seeing this phenomenon at your company? There's a way to put an end to disengaged employees, and it starts with implementing learning and development.

“Quiet quitting” has taken over the Internet (and workplaces around the world) in the past few weeks. But the phrase, which is trending heavily on TikTok and Twitter and appearing in major headlines, doesn’t actually involve quitting one’s job. Specific definitions of the term vary depending on the source, but the general idea behind quiet quitting, according to LinkedIn, is “rejecting the notion that… employees should go above and beyond what their job descriptions entail.”

Quiet quitting has resulted in a variety of viewpoints on the trend itself. Some people see quiet quitting as a rejection of pre-pandemic “hustle culture.” Many of these people view quiet quitting as setting healthy boundaries and maintaining work-life balance, largely influenced by the increased stress and burnout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Others are much more critical of the movement, viewing quiet quitting as a harmful indication (and celebration) of low motivation, decreased morale, and hindered productivity, especially from younger workers (and Gen Z in particular).

However you view quiet quitting, it’s important to point out that this phenomenon is clearly tied to a lack of employee engagement and the latest challenge that organizations need to address. But how can companies maximize employee engagement and motivate younger workers to deliver exceptional results? Learning opportunities can help.

While there are various definitions wrapped up in the concept of quiet quitting, you can use a few benchmarks to determine if your workplace has employees embracing the overall concept. Some primary clues include:

• Decreased participation: Have you noticed one or multiple employees staying quiet during meetings or providing limited feedback on projects? Reduced participation is a common sign of quiet quitting.
• Reduced interaction: When an employee isn't chatting with colleagues as much and stays relatively silent in the office chat, this might indicate that the individual is reducing the amount of effort they put into their work.
• Lower quality of work: When work quality starts to suffer, there's usually meaning behind it. An employee who stands by quiet quitting may feel that they've been pouring too much energy into their job, causing burnout and unnecessary stress. In these cases, stronger engagement and connection to work is essential.
• Less enthusiasm: A once cheery and passionate employee can quickly become disinterested and removed from their work when they embrace the Gen Z quiet quitting mindset. Your team's enthusiasm directly relates to their quality of work, so this is a sure sign additional engagement is required.

If quiet quitting seems to be a pattern among many employees, you may have an engagement problem within your company. Lack of engagement can result in:

• Lower productivity
• Reduced team morale
• Higher turnover
• More operational challenges

Young millennials and Gen Z are accustomed to a fast-paced world powered by technology. Because of this, they recognize that learning and development are necessities for keeping up in the professional world. These employees expect learning opportunities throughout their careers, and as an employer, you need to step up to this request.

With eLearning, your organization can meet this requirement for your younger team members. These programs enable Gen Z and millennial workers to adopt new skills and feel confident in their upward trajectory at their workplace. Custom eLearning gives you the chance to offer courses based on what interests your employees on a personal level. Does an employee want to sharpen their marketing skills while another wants to explore coding? You can provide both options and keep your team engaged for the long term.

At Intellezy, we offer a range of products designed for learning and development at companies of all sizes. Our training videos are an excellent option for implementing quick learning opportunities that share your values and give your employees something interesting to interact with. We have videos focused on soft skills like mindfulness and hard skills like operating Microsoft Office products. Explore these options today.

Intellezy is your source for company-wide learning and development. Explore our solutions, and get in touch with us today to learn more.