quiet quitting

1 of 2

noun

: the practice of doing the minimum amount of work required for one's job

Quiet quitting refers to doing the minimum requirements of one's job and putting in no more time, effort, or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary. As such, it is something of a misnomer, since the worker doesn't actually leave their position and continues to collect a salary.

—Greg Daugherty

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.

—Zaid Khan (@zaidleppelin), on TikTok

For many employees, quiet quitting is a form of setting boundaries in a professional context.

—Megan Prevost

In schools—especially those with unionized teachers—quiet quitting may sound a lot like the "work to rule" concept when employees stick to official working rules and hours exactly to the letter.

—Elizabeth Heubeck

quiet quitting

2 of 2

present participle of quiet quit

Examples of quiet quitting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Over the past few years, workplaces have come to terms with quiet quitting, quiet hiring, and quiet firing—and the latest of these dynamics, quiet cutting, appears to be on the rise. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024

Last year Gallup found that 50% of the U.S. workforce is in the process of quiet quitting, with a whopping 18% being actively disengaged. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Quiet thriving, an off-shoot of quiet quitting, is a new term being used to describe the action of making small efforts to help workers stay engaged at their jobs. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 20 Dec. 2023

Employees who are quiet quitting or disengaged at work are less likely to feel motivated to learn new skills. —Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023

Another reason Daco offered for productivity dropping substantial turnover and churn; as a lingering impact of the Great Resignation and quiet quitting, many workers have taken to leaving their jobs after short spells, feeling no sense of loyalty. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2023

With the rise of the soft life, quiet quitting, and multi-generational healing, wellness has become more than a buzzword for Black women globally. —Amara Amaryah, Essence, 8 Nov. 2023

The Fed raised rates, money was no longer free, and power shifted back to managers, which led to employees staying put and opting for quiet quitting instead. —Anne Chow, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2023

There has been no shortage of articles—including at this very publication—on the phenomenon of quiet quitting and, more recently, quiet cutting. —WSJ, 30 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

2022, in the meaning defined above