I WAS WRONG ABOUT QUIET QUITTING

Summary

The video addresses misconceptions about 'quiet quitting'—a term criticized for poor naming. The speaker explains that quiet quitting means doing only the job's requirements, not slacking, and contrasts this with laziness. They respond to various viewer comments, discussing the balance between going above and beyond at work and being fairly compensated. The speaker emphasizes that if employees are consistently overworked without reward, quiet quitting is a reasonable approach until they find better opportunities. The video also touches on generational mindsets and the importance of clear communication in the workplace.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍💼 Quiet quitting is often misunderstood; it's about doing your job description, not being lazy.
• 🤔 The term 'quiet quitting' is a misnomer; better terms might be 'act your wage' or 'work to rule.'
• 🛑 Lazy workers should not be confused with quiet quitters. Quiet quitters meet job expectations, while lazy workers do not.
• 💼 Going above and beyond at work without reward can be draining. People should evaluate whether it's worth the extra effort.
• 🚨 Some commenters argue quiet quitting puts pressure on co-workers to pick up slack, but the speaker clarifies that true quiet quitters do their jobs efficiently.
• 💬 The speaker agrees that working hard can sometimes lead to rewards, but that isn't always the case for everyone.
• 📉 People quiet quit to protect their well-being if they feel their extra effort isn't being recognized or rewarded.
• 👎 Participation trophies, often criticized for fostering a sense of entitlement, don't translate to tangible rewards in the workplace.
• 🤷‍♂️ Quiet quitting can be a strategy for people stuck in a job or life situation where changing jobs is difficult.
• 🧠 The speaker acknowledges there are multiple perspectives and that both lazy workers and toxic work environments exist, urging people to find better employment if possible.

Q & A

What is 'quiet quitting' as described in the script?

Quiet quitting refers to employees doing only what is outlined in their job description, without going above and beyond, especially when extra effort is not rewarded. It's about setting boundaries rather than slacking off.

Why does the speaker believe 'quiet quitting' is a misnomer?

The speaker believes 'quiet quitting' is a misnomer because it implies laziness or giving up, when in reality it is about employees setting healthy boundaries by doing the tasks they are paid to do without overextending themselves.

How does the speaker differentiate between 'quiet quitters' and lazy workers?

The speaker clarifies that quiet quitters still fulfill their job duties and maintain the satisfaction of their employers, while lazy workers neglect their responsibilities, creating extra work for their colleagues.

What is the speaker's response to people who think quiet quitting creates resentment among co-workers?

The speaker disagrees with this notion, explaining that quiet quitters do their job as expected and don't create extra slack for others. They argue that resentment is more likely caused by truly lazy workers, not quiet quitters.

What advice does the speaker offer to those who feel they are not being rewarded for going above and beyond?

The speaker advises people to stop overextending themselves if they aren't being rewarded for it and instead seek out new job opportunities where their efforts will be recognized and compensated.

What criticism does the speaker address regarding the idea of 'participation trophies'?

The speaker acknowledges that participation trophies, often criticized for diminishing work ethic, don't help in the workplace. They emphasize that quiet quitters don’t want participation trophies—they want proper rewards for their efforts.

What does the speaker say about employees being let go during a company downturn?

The speaker argues that during a company downturn, both top performers and underperformers can be laid off, and being a hard worker doesn't necessarily protect someone from being let go.

How does the speaker respond to the idea that employees must work hard now to be rewarded later?

The speaker is skeptical about this reasoning, stating that there’s no guarantee that working hard now will result in future rewards. They warn against being strung along by employers with vague promises of future compensation.

How does the speaker address the criticism that quiet quitting is lazy or entitled behavior?

The speaker refutes the idea that quiet quitting is lazy, explaining that it is simply about doing one’s job as expected. They argue that setting boundaries is not entitlement, but rather a way to protect oneself from burnout.

What does the speaker suggest to employees who are working more than one role at their job?

The speaker advises employees who are juggling multiple roles to approach management about getting the resources they need and to stop letting themselves be taken advantage of by doing more work than they are compensated for.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Clarifying the Misconceptions Around Quiet Quitting

The speaker reflects on their previous misconceptions about quiet quitting, acknowledging feedback from their audience. They explain that quiet quitting is not about being lazy but about doing only what's required in a job description. The term is criticized for its poor naming. Examples are given, such as lazy Walmart workers, but it's clarified that quiet quitters are still meeting job expectations without going above and beyond. The speaker agrees that exceptional work should be rewarded but emphasizes that it's unreasonable to consistently go above and beyond without recognition. The idea is to test whether extra effort is appreciated and to scale back if it’s not.

05:02

🙄 Addressing Criticism on Encouraging Complacency

The speaker responds to comments accusing them of discouraging followers by endorsing quiet quitting. They clarify that the goal is not to demotivate but to encourage people to invest their best efforts where they are recognized and compensated. While quiet quitting might be a coping mechanism for some stuck in difficult situations, the speaker suggests that people should strive to find workplaces where their contributions are valued. They argue that quiet quitting is about setting boundaries and not about slacking off or expecting handouts.

10:02

🧐 Examining Misconceptions Around Hard Work and Rewards

In this section, the speaker engages with comments about working hard and getting rewarded, acknowledging that while some people experience rewards for hard work, others do not. They emphasize that not all jobs pay enough to survive, and many are exploitative. While agreeing with the notion of quitting a job that doesn't recognize effort, they acknowledge that not everyone can easily leave. Quiet quitting, in this context, is seen as a way for individuals to protect themselves while exploring other opportunities.

Keywords

💡Quiet Quitting

Quiet quitting refers to employees only fulfilling their job responsibilities without going above and beyond. In the video, the speaker explains that quiet quitting is misunderstood by some as laziness, when it actually involves doing exactly what's required by the job description, but nothing extra. It's presented as a response to employers not recognizing or rewarding additional effort.

💡Act Your Wage

The concept of 'Act Your Wage' is about working in accordance with the compensation one receives, essentially not performing tasks or taking on responsibilities that go beyond what is paid for. In the video, the speaker suggests that this is a more appropriate term than 'quiet quitting,' as it reflects a fair alignment between work effort and pay.

💡Laziness

Laziness is described as a misunderstanding in the debate around quiet quitting. The speaker addresses comments that equate quiet quitting with being lazy but clarifies that the real issue is when workers don't meet basic job expectations. Quiet quitters, according to the speaker, are not lazy but are doing what they are paid for, while lazy workers fail to meet even minimum standards.

💡Job Description

A job description outlines the responsibilities and tasks an employee is expected to perform. The speaker emphasizes that quiet quitting involves sticking to this description without taking on extra duties. It's framed as a fair approach to work when employers don’t offer additional rewards for going beyond these outlined tasks.

💡Going Above and Beyond

This phrase refers to doing more than what is required or expected in a job. In the video, the speaker discusses how going above and beyond can be beneficial if it leads to recognition or rewards but warns that if extra efforts are ignored or exploited by employers, it may not be worth continuing. Quiet quitting is a reaction to this imbalance.

💡Participation Trophies

Participation trophies symbolize recognition without significant achievement, often criticized as fostering entitlement. The speaker addresses a comment about participation trophies in work settings, agreeing that such rewards are meaningless and that employees prefer tangible benefits like pay raises or promotions instead of token gestures.

💡Workplace Resentment

Workplace resentment arises when employees feel they are picking up the slack for others who aren’t doing their fair share. The speaker responds to a comment expressing concern about this, clarifying that quiet quitting doesn’t lead to slack in the workplace but is often confused with laziness, which does create problems for coworkers.

💡Toxic Management

Toxic management refers to leadership practices that demoralize employees, such as failing to reward hard work or creating chaotic work environments. In the video, toxic management is cited as a reason some workers resort to quiet quitting as they stop going above and beyond because their efforts are not recognized or valued.

💡Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification in this context means working hard without immediate rewards, hoping for future recognition. A comment in the video suggests that quiet quitters expect instant rewards, but the speaker counters that employees shouldn't blindly assume that hard work will always be rewarded in the long term, as this can lead to exploitation.

💡Boundaries

Boundaries in the workplace refer to the limits employees set around their work responsibilities, particularly in terms of how much effort and extra work they are willing to do. The speaker defends quiet quitting as a way to set healthy boundaries, ensuring workers aren’t overworked or taken advantage of by employers who expect more without offering additional compensation.

Highlights

The term 'quiet quitting' is acknowledged as a bad name and there are other terms like 'work to rule' or 'act your wage' that better describe the practice of not going above and beyond the job description.

Quiet quitting isn't about being lazy or sabotaging work but about sticking to the job description without doing extra, especially when extra work isn't rewarded.

There's a distinction between lazy workers who don't do their jobs and quiet quitters who still fulfill their duties but don't exceed expectations.

The idea that nobody should go above and beyond is dismissed; it's more about ensuring that effort is rewarded rather than blindly overworking.

Quiet quitting can happen when employees realize they're being taken advantage of, not rewarded for extra effort, and they begin to prioritize their personal time and well-being.

Addressing concerns from commenters, the speaker clarifies that quiet quitting doesn’t create slack for coworkers to pick up, unlike lazy workers who neglect their tasks.

Quiet quitting is a response to poor work environments, where employees stop overcommitting because their efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Commenters argue that hard work typically gets rewarded, but the speaker highlights that many people work hard for years without seeing the benefits and may resort to quiet quitting.

The speaker acknowledges that not everyone can easily quit their job due to life circumstances, which makes quiet quitting a way for them to cope while still performing their duties.

Quiet quitting isn’t about entitlement, but about balancing life and work, especially in cases where the job doesn’t pay enough or offer fair compensation for extra effort.

Many employees feel demotivated when they see companies making record profits while they don't receive raises or recognition for their contributions.

The speaker refutes the idea that quiet quitters are the first to go during company downturns, emphasizing that layoffs can affect top performers just as easily as others.

There’s a distinction between working the hardest and being the most noticed, and the speaker notes that promotions often go to those who are more visible rather than those who work the hardest.

The speaker criticizes the belief that employers always know best who should be promoted, pointing out instances of nepotism and favoritism in the workplace.

Quiet quitting is not a new concept; people have always set boundaries in their jobs, refusing to do tasks beyond their pay grade without compensation.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that quiet quitting is about protecting one's time and energy, and that those who are consistently doing more without reward should reconsider their approach or find a better work environment.

Transcripts

it turns out guys that I was actually

wrong

about quiet quitting according to these

people and my comments so I thought we

would take a video and we would just

address their concern and I think we can

all take a second and agree that quiet

quitting the name whoever made that it's

a bad name uh there's act your wage

there's work to rule work to contract

all sorts of things but it means doing

your job description from Karina

Harrison quiet quitting is people being

lazy these people who started the trend

did not say they went above and beyond

and is now quitting they're saying do

not do anything above and beyond what

you're being paid hence all the lazy

Walmart workers who can't tell you where

a single item is in their store customer

service is not going above and beyond

yet this lazy generation thinks it is no

those are just lazy people those are not

quite quitters for the record quiet

quitters do it in silence they're

typically not noticed because they're

still satisfying their job duties and

everyone seems to be happy with them I

think for your example here where the

lazy Walmart workers of not wanting to

tell you where a product is is probably

just someone not wanting to do their job

they say for those who do go above and

beyond they should get acknowledged and

be appreciated see we agree we're on the

same page but this notion that nobody

should go above and beyond is just a new

generation of laziness that's not what

we're saying you can go above and beyond

you can test the boundaries at your job

and see if you're noticed see if you're

rewarded for it but if you start to

figure out that this isn't worth

anything and they're just taking

advantage of you and not rewarding you

then don't do that but you're not

sabotaging the job or the company or

undermining the employer there at all

you're just doing what the job

description says and if they want you to

do more that's fine I guess you can do

that on occasion if you really need to

like keep your job or something but I

say overall if you're consistently going

above and beyond and putting in the

loyalty and the overtime and all that

stuff and nothing happens it seems silly

to keep doing that Steve S says all the

whiners defending quiet quitting you

don't want to do the extra work above

the description unless you get paid and

it seems to make sense as long as you

turn down your pay when you are learning

your job and your output was low that's

not how it works the job expectations

dictate these sort of things when you're

new the job expectations aren't as high

as when you've been in the same position

for a while so and then he ends it with

bottom line your participation trophies

you were given were completely

meaningless I think we would agree with

you I think we would be the first to say

that most of us don't want participation

trophies we would like to be rewarded in

some other way because participation

trophies don't keep the lights on you

know go take that to the utility company

hi I can see your point like when we

were growing up people would give us

stickers and trophies just for showing

up and I think you're saying that that

has ruined their work ethic or something

like that but they still do that at work

and we don't want that either if we're

going to go above and beyond or assist

the business in some extraordinary way

we would like something else besides

participation trophies but then we have

Mama Raven wolf she says the main reason

I don't agree with quiet quitting is

because it doesn't just affect the

workload of the employees doing it but

it causes all their co-workers to pick

up the slack of their work that causes

resentment and tension in the workplace

and that leads to less productivity and

enjoyment at the job overall so I think

you have a a good point it's annoying

when you have to pick up other people's

work because they're not doing it but

that's not what quiet quitting is I

think that's just maybe where you're

misinformed why quitting is doing your

job you're not slacking you're just not

you know living to work you're working

to live rather so basically quiet

quitters don't create slack lazy workers

do and maybe those lazy workers are

saying I'm quiet quitting and those

people yeah I mean got some bad apples

trying to hop on the trend also I would

like to say it's not your job to pick up

someone else's slack uh yeah you could

pick up the slack if you want or you

could just be like it's not my job which

I guess is not a great thing to say to

anyone but um I would go to your

management and say I don't have the

resources I need to do my job or the

resources that we have are currently

underperforming at their job you can't

lump it in with quiet quitting though

because that's not what it is we have

Julius Mays who says if you work hard

yeah you get rewarded most of the time

you sound young and inexperienced thank

you thank you I'm I'm 32 now uh people

say I don't look my age but hey I

appreciate that I'm being spoiled and

expecting to get everything handed to

you is an ignorant way of thinking I

agree with you I I personally like to

work for the things that I have but back

to your first sentence here if you work

hard yeah you get rewarded most of the

time I feel like maybe you've had great

experiences at work but there are a lot

of people out there where that was not

the case they've maybe put years in they

did everything they gave their soul to

the company and they did not get

rewarded I think what you would say well

if that doesn't happen then go get a new

job and that's what we would say that's

why people end up quite quitting because

they stop going above and beyond and

they use that extra time probably to

look for a new job or pursue something

they enjoy I mean it's a nice thought

that's what people tell you growing up

you have a higher chance of getting

noticed if you do that but you know take

the chance I suppose once or twice and

if it doesn't work huh maybe uh move on

peachyb says super cool of you to tell

your followers that there's no way for

them to get ahead keep up the

discouragement why even try oh I that's

not what I want this channel to be I'm

sorry that you got that Vibe peachyb

there's definitely ways for people to

get ahead but I think it's

silly to keep doing something at a job

like going above and beyond consistently

for a while when nothing is happening

you should definitely put your best work

in places where you're going to be

noticed and rewarded and compensated for

that work and there are places out there

like that and you should go find those

places but not everyone can do that some

people are locked into a job with life

situations some people can't work remote

so they're stuck in their local city

where there might be a limited amount of

jobs or something like that so for those

people quiet quitting is probably

one of their Solutions ways of dealing

with it I think for sure people should

put their best work in but just make

sure they're getting something for it I

understand it doesn't happen in the real

world all the time that way but try to

find a place where you're being rewarded

for the work that you're doing and being

noticed and where people say there are

opportunities those opportunities end up

coming through no discouragement

intended to anyone Mark Gomez says I

don't understand how people justify

slacking off quiet quitters are not

supposed to be slacking off they're

doing their job and keeping everyone

happy they're just not doing more than

that I do what I have to do to get the

job done I don't get caught up in the

owner's profits I focus on my own salary

so you've tunnel visioned yourself which

is good I guess but a lot of people have

a little bit wider of a perspective and

they say oh well the company just had

record profits and for some reason I'm

not getting a raise this year but that's

great if you can somehow stick your head

in the sand and just ignore everything

else that's going on just because you're

doing your job that's great he says the

last time I checked my job supplies me

with the money I need to survive for you

maybe but there are a lot of people

whose jobs don't provide them with the

money they need to survive and then you

might say something like well what about

their spending habits or they buy this

and that and things they don't need

maybe maybe some people do that but a

lot of people again just have life

circumstances where they're stuck in a

spot they have bills they have debt

maybe they made decisions that were

wrong but they didn't know you know like

anyone else just life happens and you

should maybe be a little bit more

empathetic to that so some people's jobs

just don't pay them enough money to live

if I ever had a problem with a job I

didn't quite quit I just quit and found

something else I think we're on the same

page there but not everyone can just

quit so quiet quitting is a way for

people to more enjoy their life most

likely entitlement mindset is a plague I

agree with that but that's not us that's

not what we're saying here every job

isn't designed to pay a living wage you

have to have the skills to pay the bills

is a saying for a reason maybe you

haven't looked on indeed lately but

there are tons of jobs out there asking

for like a master's degree and they want

to end up paying you like 12.50 an hour

and people are like I do have the skills

to pay the bills and you probably say

well go get get a different job or

something like that or apply somewhere

else but again people are limited but I

guess I admire you for being able to

ignore what's happening in the company

relative to you Jody Taylor says the

thing about quiet quitting is when the

company faces a downturn you're the

first to go

and that's not true that's not true at

all there are lots of people who are top

performers who got let go I made a video

about this just a little while ago where

someone was like I'm so glad to have

worked here I was also a top performer

and yes they let me go too and here's

what I can do for you when a company

faces a downturn they're just gonna fire

whoever they need to top performers lazy

people people in between it doesn't

matter it's whatever keeps them afloat

keeps the profits coming in um you might

be first on the chopping block for lots

of reasons even though you were doing

your job just fine in fact I might even

say they fire top performers first

because those are being paid more the

job market is in your favor now but when

this economy takes a dump you're going

to wish you'd been a worthwhile you

don't make the decision on what makes a

worthwhile employee as an employee the

people above you do your bosses your

managers they decide if you're

worthwhile not you you can do everything

to the T get your job done make them

tons of extra money and they can still

say you're not a worthwhile employed we

have ice sheets one who says this is

unbelievably short-sighted when you

quiet quit because your effort is not

being rewarded the assumption is that

your reward must be immediate do you

really think the only reward is your

next paycheck one way or another this or

a future employer will pay for your

evolved competency the real world

doesn't hand out participation trophies

and rewards are not instant you work

hard today to invest in yourself

tomorrow so first off I imagine this is

what any boss would tell their employee

as to why they're not getting a raise

this quarter or next quarter and you

need to learn to delay gratification

just like I had to when I started this

company I feel like that's what I'm

reading right now you have a point I

suppose but there's no guarantee in

knowing that you'll get a reward this

just sounds like the ultimate slippery

slope to be strung along at any job one

day an employer it might not be me but

some other employer will reward you for

doing what you did here like okay I mean

I get what you're saying sure give it a

shot for a little bit at your job or

maybe a little longer if that's what you

want and if you really think that you're

going to get that promotion or raise or

whatever you're working for but you

could see this reasoning I'll just keep

doing it you'll be rewarded one day

maybe maybe the goal here years to try

and figure out how likely it is at each

job uh sir hamster a lot the username

you don't have to work the hardest to be

noticed you just have to be the most

noticed this is a fallacy man I wish it

was a fallacy I wish it was if I hadn't

seen it myself many times or my friends

seeing it firsthand or my friends being

the people not working the hardest still

being promoted and you know I wish it

was a fallacy in order to become the

most noticed you have to work the

hardest

there's so much wrong with this there's

tons of people sitting in back rooms

doing all the work and then the sales

guy or something gets the credit people

always think they are separate things

they ain't employers aren't stupid and

they know better than you who is best

for the job they're assigning I'd like

to pause and let the audience just react

to that for a second do you think your

boss knows your job better than you all

the time they know who's the best fit

for every single position better than

you do

sure maybe sometimes people demonize

employers all the time for no reason

other than feels but I did X thing and

ex-person got promoted before me let's

be real here you have no clue what

anyone else does at your job outside of

yourself

now I don't think that's true either you

might know their job descriptions that

were in their contracts but you have no

effing clue what they're actually doing

at the company

I think sometimes but if they're getting

their work done and you're leaning on

them then you know that they're doing

their work employers know what each

individual provides okay all right there

are a lot of companies with thousands

and thousands of people working there

and some people

they just they just go missing you know

what I mean they're just they work there

but they're not there I think there was

an article the other day that said if

you have remote employees management

might forget about you

that's literally their job to know and

what drives their decisions on who to

promote and give bonuses to are you

going to find a few employers that

employ relatives and people that turn

out bad at the new position of course

but they are the exception and not the

rule I don't who made the rule you're

making up rules right now what are you

talking about this happens all the time

nepotism is a real thing hard work

doesn't guarantee promotions or bonuses

and I definitely try for it if that's

what you want or you think it's likely

or you want to challenge or whatever I

mean don't let me gatekeep but it's

there's no guarantee that will happen

it's your job to figure out the

likelihood people nowadays are so effing

lazy with this quiet quitting BS just do

your job and help out extra once in a

while to be nice and you want to know

the irony of this whole quiet quitting

movement the guy who came up with this

idea and made the entire thing saw how

silly egotistical and lazy it was and

stopped doing it okay but the guy who

came up with the idea is not the guy who

created the movement people have been

doing their job descriptions and not

going above and beyond for a while now

since probably the beginning of jobs

people have just been doing their job

and saying nah that's above my pay grade

no I don't get paid to do that people

been doing that forever sure sometimes

it's annoying when you have the lazy

workers doing that but you can't confuse

the lazy workers with people who are

setting boundaries okay Wesley Franken

says I'm the only Hardware engineer

software engineer and system engineer I

make a lot of hours because I want to

and because my ass isn't the only that's

on the line man you're being taken

advantage of and you need to go talk to

management let's just stop it and say

that if you're doing three jobs then

you're not getting the resources that

you need most likely and if you're

working a lot of hours because you want

to

that's on you you're saying thank you

for taking advantage of me I want this

basically and then the last comment here

which I think is actually pretty

insightful is from Matthew he says

there's several layers of perspective

here there are plenty of lazy entitled

workers true there are also those who

put in the time and effort for no reward

true if that is the case seek employment

elsewhere yes but most likely they're

going to stop going above and beyond in

the meantime while they do that which is

quite quitting if management is toxic

and it is a jumbled mess where you spend

all your time putting out fires instead

of working productivity and stability

it's time to change employers I agree

with that suggest any I.T worker read

the Phoenix project and the Unicorn

project book there you go there's some

advice from Matthew so yeah there are a

lot of misconceptions a lot of

misinformation out there assuming people

who are saying this are just lazy and

don't want to do anything at all and

they just want free money yeah I agree

with you guys it's insane that's crazy

but I think most of you would agree if

you previously disagree with me that if

you're being taken advantage of at your

job it's time to go somewhere else and

by taking advantage of we're defining

that as doing more than your job

consistent and not receiving anything

for that also there were some people out

there that got offended that I used the

terms Boomer but Boomer when I say that

is a mindset it's not necessarily just

an age I know technically the definition

is the generation but it's a mindset you

you guys know what I mean when I say

okay Boomer we're thinking mindset here

people who are stuck in a tradition

people who don't want to change this is

how we've always done it type thing has

nothing to do with age there's people my

age people younger than me older than me

it's a mindset just thought I'd clarify

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