Social media is now the public square, and quirky two words prefixed with a hashtag can make a difference almost instantly. Some go viral and stay longer than others. At times, they raise an important yet overlooked aspect of today’s work practices.
The recent two words trending on social media, more so on TikTok, is “Quiet quitting”. The phrase has generated millions of views on the short-video streaming platform. Those promoting the idea appear to be young workers who have rejected the idea of going the extra mile at work. This group seeks to make people take time out of work and do something outside of office.
This trend, in a way, shows the impact of hybrid or work from home-based office work culture that has permeated all organisations in the last two years. During this time, a growing number of Gen Z and millennials have grown tired of not being recognised or compensated for putting in extra hours. Now, they want to end the burnout, and are looking to focus on work-life balance. Their online movement centres around self-preservation and doing what they are paid to do.
