The generation of people who own and run things is finally talking about “Quiet Quitting”. You can tell, because the Wall Street Journal has twelve items on it, all in the last two weeks.

That means the term was coined a long time ago by someone who probably doesn’t read the WSJ.
For reference, it simply means not going above and beyond anymore – doing one’s job well enough to not get fired. Now they are calling it a trend.

There is difference between a “trend” and “being trendy.” Quiet quitting is a trendy name for what has been around for as long as people have worked for others. Getting by at work isn’t a trend. The word “shirk” goes back to the 17th century.

The people who own and run businesses hate this idea of quiet quitting. They are, as they always have been, dismayed at the idea that someone wouldn’t want to give their all at work. The backlash from these quarters ain’t pretty as people serve up labels of “whiny” and worse to describe the modern shirker.

Let’s be real. While the idea of quiet quitting isn’t new, that fact that workers have choices and autonomy they never had before is.

This labor market combined with evolving attitudes toward work has changed the old formula. The formula of “if you want to get ahead you need to work hard, get noticed, make sacrifices” reflects the power being in the hands of business leaders. The new formula is, “If I want to get ahead, I will go where my efforts will be rewarded.”

That’s a power shift to the worker, and that’s why the people who own and run things are miffed.

Now what will leaders do about it? Make your place of business the one they choose. Lead with your values. Build a great culture. Deliver a great employee experience. Make yourself attractive. All those things that were “nice to have” for your employees are now “must haves.”

You now need to compete, so compete to win. Or you lose.