Do we live to work, or work to live? As insignificant and flippant as this question might seem, its importance in the well-being of American workers cannot be understated. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Americans made a bold choice in quitting their jobs nationwide, choosing the temptation of a more comprehensive personal life over economic stability. Working from home, remote learning and limited social interaction has led to many questioning their livelihoods, further determining what responsibilities are of critical importance, and which are not. Variously dubbed the ‘Great Resignation,’ ‘Great Reshuffle’ or the ‘Big Quit,’ this ideological change has allowed Americans to dream of better lives. Years after the start of the pandemic, Americans are once again challenging the workplace status quo. This time, ‘quiet quitting’ is taking over, hoping to change set ideals regarding employer-employee relationships, worker involvement and fair compensation.

The term ‘quiet quitting’ was first introduced into the mainstream by 24-year-old New York native Zaid Khan via a TikTok video gone viral. In the video, he described the phenomenon as a situation where “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.” While barely 17 seconds long, the concept sent ripples through social media platforms on an international scale, shifting the way many people were accustomed to think of their work. In simple terms, ‘quiet quitting’ implies doing the bare minimum without going above and beyond one’s responsibilities. Uncompensated shifts, overtime hours and any form of work after the traditional 9–5 structure are thus ignored.

Standing in clear defiance to ‘hustle culture,’ an idea which some consider to be a pillar of America’s 21st century capitalist society, seems to be counterproductive and ultimately harmful for employers and employees alike. Yet unsubscribing from the belief that ‘productivity trumps all’ can help workers free themselves from the chains of workplace culture, adopting a more balanced approach to their personal lives.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a large majority of the world isolated and working from home, perceptions of workplace effort drastically changed. Physical distancing led to decreased enthusiasm, productivity and overall connection with one’s job, according to

The Guardian

. This ‘mental checking-out,’ the newspaper found, further allowed people the liberty to question where they were in their respective lives and if their values aligned with their daily routines. Spending quality time with family, going out to eat with friends or watching a long-awaited movie in the living room are all activities quiet quitters are starting to embrace. Putting additional projects, late-night emails and group conferences aside is the secret to a quiet quitter’s success. Having the ability to disconnect, hence forgetting about the stress of workplace responsibility, gives workers a chance to live a fulfilling life beyond the 9–5.

On Sept. 3, 2022,

The Daily Show

host Trevor Noah posted a clip of himself on Youtube discussing the topic, stating “people in this country are so obsessed with work. Your job is just the place you go to avoid seeing your family.” He then further added that one’s line of work “doesn’t need to be the most important part of [their] existence.” He is right on this point. Working in a world overly saturated by competitiveness and a thirst for lucrative opportunities is leading to “American worker burnout at frighteningly high levels,” as reported by

Forbes

. Moreover, as stated by NPR Contributor Amina Kilpatrick, “businesses [are] benefit[ing] from a culture of overwork without additional compensation.” The lack of financial incentives for people to work past required hours is a driving force behind the ‘quiet quitting’ trend. With this lack of desire to climb up the corporate ladder, American workers now have an innate opportunity to change their life trajectories for the better.

Critics of ‘quiet quitting,’ such as

Shark Tank

’s Kevin O’Leary, openly targeted the trend as being “the dumbest idea [he] ha[d] ever heard,” during a CNBC interview. According to the

Wall Street Journal

, other followers of the ‘24/7 grind,’ such as influencer Gary Vaynerchuk, adopt a similar view. However, as much as their own philosophies might imply, humans are not machines, and their work cannot be exploited to the point where a genuine sense of purposeness is lost. In a world where Generation Z has reported the lowest workplace engagement in 2021 (31 percent), as brought to light by the

Wall Street Journal

, Americans must adopt a new way of living life that can find satisfaction and happiness outside the workplace.

Built upon the belief that work should be an integral part of everyday life, American society all too often takes pride in turning its citizens into workaholics. Quiet quitting is laying the cornerstone for a workplace revolution. It is time to grow out of this antiquated mentality. Life is much more than work, and Americans need to shift gears if they seek to reap the benefits of a more balanced lifestyle.