Quiet quitting describes the behaviour of strictly limiting oneself to contractual duties and refusing any additional effort or engagement. The term emerged in the US in 2022 and describes a stance more than an actual resignation – employees stay formally in the job but "quit" their willingness to over-deliver.
Drivers are often missing recognition, lack of career perspectives, unhealthy cultures, stagnating pay and a lack of meaning. The shift in younger generations' expectations also plays a role: work-life balance, meaning and fairness are weighted more strongly than pure promotion prospects.
For employers, quiet quitting is a warning sign – it signals engagement loss and often precedes later resignations. Responses should be constructive: conversations, fair workloads, clear recognition. Ignoring the pattern fuels turnover and damages the employer brand.
For candidates, quiet quitting is no career strategy but a signal: anyone permanently at the limit without resonance should consider a switch. Lunigi delivers curated alternatives.