The term “quiet quit” has been used to describe people who have psychologically opted out of their jobs. Rather than quit, an employee chooses to take less — or enough to turn over paychecks.
Most sober quitters are looking for new work or are focusing their time and energy on projects outside of work. Working remotely can make it difficult to spot quiet people, so there are some signs to look out for.
1. They don’t attend meetings
If you have a teammate who is selective about meetings they know full well their attendance is essential, you may have a quiet-quitter. While it may not be necessary to attend every meeting, if your team members are purposely not attending meetings to prove a point, it could mean that their motivation has waned.
Similarly, if a team member has been attending meetings but appears disinterested and doesn’t contribute in any way, you may have a quiet-quitter. After a while, it becomes easy to spot employees who have decided to separate themselves from workâespecially if they did the exact opposite when they were hired.
2. They don’t attend events
If your team has organized leisure events online, like gaming nights or virtual get-togethers, and people aren’t interested in joining, there could be several reasons. They may already have a lot going on, or have other commitments, but if team members are choosing to avoid every single event, it could be a sign that they have lost their desire to communicate with their team. have lost
While this may not mean that they are completely quietly quitting, it may indicate that they do not want to be a part of the work culture. This is something that managers should be mindful of, especially if certain things are not going well within their organization.
Social events and team activities are opportunities for employees to enjoy, so if people are choosing not to attend, there is probably a more serious reason. Assessing why team members are not participating can shed some light on underlying problems.
3. They withdraw or check out
If you notice usually bubbly and motivated team members becoming less engaged in their daily work, it could be a sign that they’re checking out.
If a team member suddenly seems disinterested in the company or their work, it may indicate that they no longer care about their position and are (potentially) looking for something else. While there are signs that tell you when someone is ready to quit their job, it could be that there is a more major problem going on in their life.
While there are many reasons to check out, if the person in question appears happy outside of work hours, it could mean their problem lies in their work. Perhaps they have become disinterested in what they are doing, in which case they are consciously choosing to withdraw.
4. They don’t meet deadlines
If there’s been a significant change in your co-workers’ work performance, there’s usually a reason. If your coworker was once active and engaged, and now they’re turning in poor quality work, it could mean they no longer find the work interesting.
While there can be many reasons for a change in quality, such as personal problems, or burnout, constantly handing work that isn’t up to scratch could mean they are quietly quitting. There are smart ways to leave a job on good terms, but if your coworker no longer shows interest in the way they performed poorly, chances are they’ll move out of the way.
5. They act indifferent
If your coworker is cynical about the company culture, or doesn’t seem interested in the work they’re doing, it could be a sign that they’re getting ready to leave. While leaving quietly may be one reason why they are acting this way, it could also mean that they have found another job – or that they no longer agree with the company’s policies and work ethics.
6. They’re Unreachable
One reason people quiet-quit is when they are feeling overworked, unmotivated or underpaid. One way to tell if someone has lost interest in their work is by the hours they work. For example, if your company has a policy about core work hours and your coworker isn’t paying attention to them, it could be a sign that they just don’t care anymore.
By disrespecting certain key rules and regulations of the company, a quiet-quitter may think they can work the hours they choose instead of adhering to company standards.
7. He has isolated himself
In a remote work environment, it is still possible to perform to the best of your abilities. This includes being active in chat channels, contributing ideas, and having input into work processes. If your coworker is no longer participating in any of these things, and they’ve decided to mentally and emotionally detach themselves from the demands of the workplace, this could be a sign.