Setting Boundaries At Work Instead Of “Quiet Quitting”
If clocking in and clocking out counts as “quitting,” then we’re all quitters.
By now you’ve probably heard the term “quiet quitting.” There has been a lot of backlash to the term that was popularized in a TikTok video. It describes “quiet quitting” as “quitting the idea of going above and beyond at work.” While you’re still performing your duties, the “quitting” part is that you no longer belong to the non-stop, hustle mentality that work has to be.
We should be able to set healthy boundaries at our job. It really sucks that “meets expectations” now means “doing way more work than you’re compensated to do, or have the time for.” Unfortunately, it’s a natural consequence of the very toxic hustle culture that now dominates the workplace.
The term “quiet quitting” makes it sound like workers are doing nothing more than the bare minimum, which scares managers who have come to expect their workers to do a lot more, for no additional pay.
It’s dangerous to frame “quiet quitting”—which again, means doing your job—as an act of resistance. It’s about fair work and fair pay. That’s why it’s important to learn how to set boundaries around the job you were hired to do, and the personal life you deserve to have.
Here are some suggestions:
Review your job description. This is how you can identify what exactly you’re being paid to do, and it gives you clear terms to identify where your boundaries fall. Once you know what your boundaries are, it’ll be easier to maintain them with the people around you.
Communicate those boundaries. Maybe YOU need accountability to stick to your guns, or you need to clarify that your boundaries won’t catch your boss off-guard, it’s important to express your boundaries out loud. Just make sure you’re clear, direct, and polite.
Silence notifications outside of work hours (if you can). Remote work has blurred the lines terribly for when managers expect employees to be available to respond to emails or “just hop on a quick call.” Depending on your work, try to make very clear when your work day begins and ends.
Learn how to say “no.” There’s definitely an art to saying no without just flat out saying the word “no” at work. For instance, if you need to decline a meeting that is not productive you could say something like “I’m taking care of some other things that need my attention” or “No, but – maybe we can meet on it next week, and you can fill me in…”
Now there are plenty of us who truly love our jobs. But his isn’t the issue. Everyone can benefit from setting boundaries between work and the rest of their life. Or perhaps between what is work – and what is real life.
At the end of the day, most people are probably underpaid for their work. Absolutely do what you were hired to do – and then go have a life!
