Study Overview
This white paper explores the concept of "quiet quitting" and its implications for the modern workplace. It argues that quiet quitting is fundamentally about a loss of intrinsic motivation rather than laziness or minimal effort.
Study Results
The paper examines quiet quitting as a shift in employee motivation rather than laziness, linking it to disengagement caused by inadequate workplace resources and excessive demands. It argues that the pandemic altered employee expectations, emphasizing control over work time and rejecting pre-pandemic norms of overwork. Managers are caught between organizational pressures to increase engagement and employees’ needs for support, autonomy, and better working conditions. The study suggests that businesses should focus on removing workplace barriers, enhancing intrinsic motivation, and fostering a healthier work environment to improve both engagement and productivity.
Populations: US employees and managers
Working Paper: Banks, Cristina. 2023. Quiet Quitting and a Pathway to Better Work.