When Quiet Quitting Is Worse Than The Real Thing

Business Ethics First Formal Paper Quiet Quitting refers to employees disengaging from their work without formally resigning. This occurrence has multiple underlying causes such as dissatisfaction, burnout, and feeling underappreciated by coworkers. It has currently gained traction in the past 2 years on social media like TikTok, where the idea that "Your worth is not defined by your productive output" is being popularized (source TikTok). It is important to understand the implications and ethical issues of quitting. Seeing this recent trend through many perspectives such as Kantian principles, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics, can help bring light to the situation. Quiet quitting goes by many names such as silent resignation, soft quitting,

The article "When Quiet Quitting Is Worse Than the Real Thing" discusses how quiet quitting can harm organizations. Klotz and Bolino argue that while workers are not completely disengaged, their lack of effort "increases the burden on their colleagues to take on the extra work instead." To fight this trend, Klotz suggests that leaders should redefine job roles, actively listen to employee needs, and support engagement to create a sense of belonging. In contrast, the article "Quiet Quitting Undermining Flourishing", states that the phenomenon is a part of evolving American work culture, especially with the fall of the Covid-19 pandemic. It emphasizes how young workers no longer prioritize their jobs over their outside lives. Both articles agree on the importance of supporting and connecting with others in the workplace. Klotz focuses more on responsibilities that employers should focus on, while Wasson highlights how work culture changes with time. Ultimately, both advocate for a healthy balance between work and life to enhance employee satisfaction and

Although quiet quitting may provide short-term relief for the individual partaking in the action, it can also have detrimental effects on the entire business in the long run. As soon as one employee mentally withdraws from their job, it can have a domino effect on the rest of the team, creating a negative environment in the workplace. If quiet quitting becomes a frequent occurrence, the overall productivity of the company decreases, and a lack of engagement leads to a lack of creativity and innovation. The utilitarian perspective argues that quiet quitting would be considered immoral since it does more harm than good. It is important to take into consideration those surrounding you, to ensure that you are maximizing happiness and limiting suffering for your coworkers. In order to prevent quiet quitting in the workplace, it is essential to have ethical leadership that cares for their team. It is a leader's job to ensure that the workplace stays positive and values all employees. Making employees feel valued in the company can be a crucial