For a company, it is existentially important that employees are committed and motivated to do their work in order to deliver the best possible results for the company’s continued existence. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out, and experts are only too happy to talk about quiet quitting in this context.
Quiet Quitting is a kind of withdrawal from work. As a result of the loss of motivation, employees only perform “duty by the book”. This means that they do what they absolutely have to do and stop working as soon as it’s time to call it a day. As a result, although the minimum requirements can still be met, there is no upward potential left. Fatal and worrying for an employer.
Quiet receipt requires urgent action
First of all, it is important to find out where this tendency to do work in an assembly-line fashion and to long for the end of the day comes from. Are employees perhaps overburdened with the tasks assigned to them? If so, supervisors should take remedial action and reduce the number of tasks. Are employees rather bored? Then the tasks can be more extensive and interesting in order to generate more motivation. Quiet quitting is often not triggered by a specific reason. In this case, it helps to have open discussions and create more team spirit.
With team spirit to the goal
Sometimes it’s simply that the individual doesn’t feel heeded enough and then shuts down internally. But if everyone sticks together, colleagues look out for each other and pull together, then the individual feels part of the whole and doesn’t want to disappoint. Something great can then emerge from the community, together instead of alone. Often it is enough to rethink the prevailing structures and thus set a new course. This also applies to the supervisor. Instead of distributing tasks from above, it helps to mingle with the team and ask for concrete needs. Only satisfied employees are happy employees.
Note vacation season in Quiet Quitting
Despite all attempts, quiet quitting can still happen. Perhaps simply because employees urgently want to switch off and need some time off. That’s why vacation periods are important. During these days or weeks, work really has to be at rest, which means that calls, e-mails and the like also have to stop. Otherwise, employees will not be able to recover properly and recharge their batteries. Numerous studies have shown how important this is. Cell phones and notebooks make it easier and easier to quickly delegate a few tasks and to always be available for follow-up questions. This makes time outside of working hours all the more valuable. Bosses also have to accept this, today more than ever.
Prevent Quiet Quitting
Often, when Quiet Quitting is obvious, it is difficult to row back and find new motivation. Difficult and bad for a company and therefore this should be prevented if possible before it happens. This only works if supervisors always have an open ear for the concerns and needs of employees, give them enough time off and enrich the daily work routine with fresh ideas. In a good atmosphere, where everyone is respected, allowed to develop new ideas, and can even have a relaxed cup of coffee without being looked down upon, it’s much easier to work. Some bosses dare to move forward and set up extra relaxation areas, donate an annual pass for sauna and gym or introduce the 4-day work week to create more free time for their employees besides the job. Only everyday working life will show whether this helps, but it’s definitely worth a try!
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