Connect with Your Employees to Stop Turnover and ‘Quiet Quitting’

“Quiet quitting” might seem like just another TikTok trend, but this social media phenomenon has a sting behind all the buzz. The number of disengaged workers – especially younger workers – is rising rapidly and leaders need to act soon, before “quiet quitting” evolves into actual quitting.

In a recent survey, Gallup found that at least 50% of the U.S. workforce is psychologically detached from work, with younger workers reporting significantly declining job satisfaction since 2019.

Jim Harter, chief scientist for Gallup’s workplace and well-being research, writes that the decline in employee engagement is “related to clarity of expectations, opportunities to learn and grow, feeling cared about, and a connection to the organization’s mission or purpose — signaling a growing disconnect between employees and their employers.”

In other words, younger workers want their jobs to align with their personal values; they want their bosses to care about their professional growth and personal challenges; and they want reasonable workloads so they can clock out on time and spend time with their families and friends.