Millennials are at it again, reshaping work culture in ways that have everyone buzzing. This generation that’s been both criticized and praised for changing the workplace has now introduced something akin to the ‘quiet quitting’ trend, but with a twist.
First, let’s talk about what ‘quiet quitting’ really entails. It’s when employees stick strictly to their job descriptions, doing no more than what’s required of them.
Those in favor argue it’s not about quitting anything but rather about sticking to the agreed terms of employment. They claim that the negative perception of this practice highlights the unreasonable expectations of a toxic work culture that demands employees go ‘above and beyond’ without compensation.
But hold onto your office chairs, because there’s a new trend on the block, buzzing particularly among millennials.
Introducing the latest workplace revolution: ‘quiet vacationing’. Yes, you heard that right. Let’s dive deeper into what this means.
Unlike quiet quitting, quiet vacationing stems from a need for better work-life balance. It’s an under-the-radar method where employees take time off without officially logging it as paid time off.
In the US, a staggering 78 percent of workers don’t use all their PTO, with millennials and Gen Z leading this statistic. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t taking breaks. A significant number of millennials confess to taking stealthy time off, with tactics ranging from the old mouse jiggle to show activity, to scheduling emails during off-hours to appear busy.
Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll, sheds light on this trend to CNBC, saying, “There’s a giant workaround culture at play. They will figure out how to get appropriate work-life balance, but it’s happening behind the scenes. It’s not exactly quiet quitting, but more like quiet vacationing.”
So why is this more prevalent among millennials? Rodney suggests that while Gen Z is upfront about their workplace demands, millennials, especially the older ones now juggling careers and young families, prefer a subtler approach to achieving work-life balance.