Everyone knows a person at work who just coasts. They do their hours, and get the job done, but by modern work standards, that’s pretty much the bare minimum. They aren’t going above and beyond, they aren’t offering to take on additional tasks and responsibilities and they aren’t staying late to get projects finished.
While Gen X and older workers might know this person as the office slacker, or someone who’s just on a go-slow, Gen Z has a new interpretation. Thanks to TikTok, the phenomenon is now known as ‘quiet quitting”. It is a trend that was popularised by a 24-year-old engineer from New York called Zaid Khan.
In a now viral TikTok video, Khan said: “You are still performing your duties, but you are no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentally that work has to be our life. The reality is, it’s not, and your worth as a person is not defined by your labour.”
As TikTok does, a flurry of copy-cat videos followed and from there the trend took flight into wider, traditional media where think-pieces and column inches aplenty were devoted to the concept.
Eighty per cent of TikTok’s user base is aged between 16 and 34, and by 2025, Gen Z is expected to account for more than 25 per cent of the world’s workforce. This group has clear ideas around how it wants to work differently. A Deloitte study found that 32 per cent value work/life balance, followed by learning and development opportunities at 29 per cent. Salary is the motivator for just under a quarter of this age group.
Feeling disengaged
Additionally, we already know that many millennials are checking out of work. Gallup found that only 29 per cent of this cohort feel connected to their job and company, with 16 per cent actively disengaged.
So disengagement and quiet quitting look a lot the same, and additionally we are in a period where many employees are experiencing higher burnout levels than they have ever done before. A Mental Health UK survey from March 2021 found that 46 per cent of UK workers feel ‘more prone to extreme levels of stress’. Perhaps it is not so surprising that this trend has found so much favour with so many workers.
Sticking about in a job you’re barely invested in isn’t a great look for a number of reasons. Your manager will notice, you won’t be offered further training or career advancement opportunities and your chance to advance your skill set will shrivel on the vine.
Instead, if you feel burnt out, disconnected and disengaged, think about a new job instead. Reigniting your 9-5 might be just the trick, so if you feel like the solution lies in a change, then we have three jobs below that are worth a look. Plus, you can find many more on the Fintech Times Job Board.
Client Engagement Manager – Financial Markets, eClerx, London
If you are interested in how technology is changing the way financial firms operate, eClerx partners with some of the most innovative companies in the world to rethink and improve how vital processes are run at leading global financial institutions. The Client Engagement Manager will require a strong understanding of capital markets, the ecosystem of businesses and departments participating in and servicing those markets, their underlying platforms and operating models, and the industry forces driving change. You will also lead the development and delivery of innovative proposals, combining domain expertise, change and production capability, and automation services. You’ll need a Bachelor’s degree, excellent problem-solving and consultative capabilities with change the bank experience, and domain knowledge and industry awareness of capital market operations. Get more information here.
Account Protection Specialist – Global Fraud Protection, Amex, Brighton
Amex’s UK Identity Protection Team (IPT) is looking for a highly motivated, engaged Account Protection Specialist – Global Fraud Protection. You are the company’s front-line contact and will put customers first. More than just a friendly voice, you are a problem solver, a relationship builder and a team player. You’ll minimise fraud loss exposure through identification of accounts that were obtained through fraudulent applications that are either pre- or post-approved and accounts that have been taken over by fraudsters. You will need a strong knowledge of identity fraud processes, have a passion for coaching and a proven ability of leading through change. Get all the details here.
Senior Engineer Detection Response, Airbnb, London
The Senior Engineer Detection Response will join the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) at Airbnb, which is focused on automating security detection, responding to security incidents, and working with partner teams to build capabilities that support the incident lifecycle. This is the front-line team that detects, investigates, and responds to security threats and malicious activity. This is a key senior role to define and execute Airbnb’s vision for threat detection and incident response capabilities and process while mentoring other team members. As a senior engineer on the team, you will have direct impact building, optimising, and growing, securing capabilities as you help deliver world-class threat detection and incident response. Get full information here.
For more great roles that will make you want to move, check out the Fintech Times Job Board
