Not too long ago, work-related buzzwords like quiet quitting, Sunday scaries, and bare minimum Mondays did not exist. These jargons are now commonly used to describe a shift in the way people view their jobs, which supposedly was triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many workers worldwide have reevaluated the place of work in their lives, with more emphasis placed on purpose-driven work and being valued as an employee.
While this is undoubtedly true, it begs the question of whether employers need to take every new workplace jargon seriously or dismiss them as just social media trends. However, Anthony Klotz, the American academic who coined the term "The Great Resignation," reveals that the data suggests a more nuanced picture. In 2022, over 50 million US workers quit their jobs, the highest annual number in over two decades, and other countries experienced similar spikes. Therefore, The Great Resignation was a real phenomenon that demands attention.
Klotz was able to predict the trend of employees quitting their jobs before official figures confirmed it. Although many workers quit their jobs, most didn't leave the workforce entirely but rather switched to similar jobs or received better pay and benefits from their employers. Another trend that emerged was the idea of "quiet quitting", which has been dismissed by some experts as just another term for employee disengagement. However, Klotz argues that it's different because quiet quitters aren't withdrawing from tasks or doing poor work, but rather disengaging from going above and beyond their job description.
While going beyond the call of duty can be rewarding, Klotz's research shows that it can also be draining. Another trend that has emerged is "rage applying", where employees mass-apply for jobs after becoming fed up with their current job. Klotz advises employers to keep a fair workplace and to list their organization on all job platforms that rage of applicants may be using. Finally, Klotz remarks that employers need not dwell on terms like "presenteeism", "Sunday scaries", or "bare minimum Mondays", as there is little empirical evidence supporting their rise. All in all, it's important to keep an eye on new workplace trends, but trending online doesn't always reflect what happens in real life.