Question about those 'quiet quitting' videos that blew up on TikTok

So I saw a ton of these videos a few months back, all about doing the bare minimum at your job. I got curious and tried to bring that mindset to my own work for about two weeks, just doing exactly what was on my route sheet and nothing extra. Honestly, it backfired big time. My regulars on my delivery route noticed I wasn't as chatty or helpful, and my boss pulled me aside to ask if everything was okay. I learned that for a lot of jobs, especially ones where you see people face to face, that 'act your wage' idea just makes you feel disconnected and can hurt your reputation fast. It felt more like a quick social media trend than real, good advice. Has anyone else tried to follow an online work trend and had it go totally wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_adams24d ago

You said it "backfired big time", but is a couple quiet weeks really that big of a deal? People have off periods, and your boss just asked if you were okay. Maybe it's not a reputation killer, just a weird experiment that felt awkward.

barbara_campbell18d ago

Honestly, the part that gets me is how it changes your own feelings about the job. Like @phoenix_adams said, maybe it's not a huge deal to others, but for those two weeks I felt kind of grumpy and checked out, not just quiet. It made the day drag because I wasn't connecting with people, and that's a big part of what makes the work okay.

brown.gavin24d ago

Yeah, but that's the whole point... it's not just a weird experiment. That awkward feeling is the damage. When you pull back like that, people notice the change, not the reason. You're right, it's not a lifetime reputation killer, but it starts a clock in their head. Now your boss is watching a little closer, and your regulars might not trust you as much. It's like putting a tiny crack in a window... it might not shatter today, but it's never as strong again.