Understanding the “Quiet Quitting” Trend
September 28, 2022
“Quiet quitting” is an emerging trend where workers only do what their job description entails without going above and beyond. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees shifted their views on their work lives, and this has been reflected in movements such as the Great Reshuffle—a mass movement of workers to jobs that meet their demands for things such as more flexibility and better benefits—the shift to remote work and, now, the quiet quitting trend.
Employees who solely complete their job description and no more could continue to be valuable workers. However, employers can consider steps to engage employees and prevent quiet quitting from happening in the first place. To help eliminate the trend’s presence in their organizations, employers should focus on effective communication with their employees and methods to enhance employee engagement.
Signs of Quiet Quitting
Research conducted by Gallup found that only 32% of employees are engaged, and 17% are actively disengaged. Employees who are not engaged could be at risk for doing only their job and not going above and beyond. Further, 53% of workers reported they feel burnt out, according to Talkspace’s Employee Stress Check 2022 Report. To improve employee engagement and prevent these issues from turning from quiet quitting into actual quitting, employers need to know what signs to look for. Employers should pay attention to employees who are consistently doing the following:
- Not attending meetings that are not mandatory
- Not being as productive as they once were
- Contributing to team projects less
- Not participating in meetings
- Displaying a lack of enthusiasm
It is important to know that there a several reasons an employee may choose to quiet quit. For example, they may simply refuse to do work outside their job description because they feel they are not being compensated for it. While it may not be clear why an employee is choosing to quiet quit, these signs are a good indicator that an employee may be thinking about it or trying to do so.
What Employers Can Do
Quiet quitting is often the result of decreased motivation and burnout. Further, a lack of effective communication between leaders and employees and a general failure of management and organizations can play a role. For example, failures may include a lack of honesty with employees and not delivering on promises.
Consider the following ideas to help improve employee engagement and decrease the odds of quiet quitting among employees:
- Provide clear job descriptions. Job descriptions let employees know exactly what is expected of them. Employers should review job descriptions to ensure they accurately reflect the duties they expect their employees to perform.
- Conduct performance reviews. Performance reviews are opportunities to reward employees for the positive things they have done and inspire them to continue working hard. Without this feedback and indications of appreciation for hard work, such as title adjustments and salary raises, employees could lack motivation and start to feel burnt out and consider quiet quitting. Further, it is important to recognize employees who go above and beyond because they are likely to feel discouraged and decrease their performance if their contributions go unnoticed. Conversely, performance reviews are just as important for underperforming employees because they are opportunities to clearly communicate expectations and work together to correct the behavior.
- Educate employees on employee handbooks. Employee handbooks are another tool employers can use to clearly communicate expectations to employees, but they are only truly effective if employees understand them. Employers should take time to educate employees on their handbook and its policies so they can ensure employee understanding. The handbook should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that expectations are up to date and that organizations are in compliance with current laws.
- Provide learning and development opportunities. High employee engagement is crucial to preventing quiet quitting. One effective way to increase engagement is through learning and development initiatives. According to Zywave’s 2022 Attraction and Retention Benchmarking Overview, 29% of employers found career development opportunities to be a top priority of workers during the hiring process. Employees who have these opportunities are more likely to remain engaged and stay motivated to try their best at their jobs.
- Focus on good management strategies. Effective management is essential to having efficient, happy employees, so it is important to focus on the techniques managers use. Provide resources to managers about effective strategies and meet with them to discuss ways they can improve. Further, consider conducting skip reviews, where employees talk with their manager’s manager to discuss feedback or concerns they may have. This will allow the manager to receive helpful feedback that can be mutually beneficial and improve their employees’ experiences.
Takeaway
Quiet quitting is the new term for the trend of employees doing only what their job requires without exceeding expectations. Employers should be aware of the trend and that it will impact every workplace differently. Employers should monitor for signs that employees may be disengaging and utilize different strategies to help prevent quiet quitting. In cases where quiet quitting may be negatively impacting the employer and they cannot seem to resolve the issue, employers should ensure compliance with federal and local employment laws before pursuing any termination action. For specific guidance about disciplining employees, employers are encouraged to seek local legal counsel.
Contact SimcoHR today for more information on workplace trends, employee retention and employment laws.
Sign up for our newsletter.
When school lets out, many working parents face a new set of challenges: piecing together childcare, coordinating summer camps, adjusting work schedules, and simply trying to maintain a sense of balance. For employers, this season presents a valuable opportunity to demonstrate empathy and build stronger connections with your workforce—especially your working parents. By offering the right policies, benefits, and workplace flexibility, your company can help parents manage the summer shuffle—while keeping productivity and morale strong. Here are a few impactful ways to make that happen. 1. Offer Flexible Scheduling Options Summer schedules are rarely predictable, especially for parents with younger children or teens involved in day camps, sports, or part-time jobs. Allowing employees to shift their working hours or compress their workweeks can be a game-changer. Early start and end times, four-day workweeks, or staggered hours give parents the flexibility to handle family logistics without sacrificing their jobs. What you can do: Encourage managers to have open conversations with team members about their summer availability. Promote cross-training so employees can support each other during flexible hours or time off. Formalize a “Summer Flex Hours” program to show company-wide support. This kind of trust-driven flexibility not only improves work-life balance but also boosts engagement and retention. 2. Revisit Your Remote or Hybrid Work Policy For companies that support remote work, summer is an ideal time to offer extra flexibility. Parents may need to be closer to home for child supervision or to avoid time-consuming commutes during camp drop-offs and pickups. Even one or two remote days per week can ease the mental load on parents—helping them stay focused and productive during working hours. And it signals a deeper commitment to employee wellbeing. Ways to implement: Offer a seasonal “summer remote work option” if your company is traditionally office-based. Empower department heads to tailor remote work flexibility to their team’s needs. Reinforce accountability and results-based performance to support this model. Tip: Simco is happy to help you review your remote work policy for both compliance and employee satisfaction! 3. Promote and Educate on Dependent Care Benefits Many organizations offer dependent care support, but employees often forget—or aren’t aware—of what’s available. Summer is a perfect time to highlight programs like: Dependent Care FSAs (tax-free childcare reimbursements) Childcare subsidies or stipends Backup care assistance Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with parenting or caregiver resources Tip: Create a simple “Summer Benefits Guide” or a quick email campaign highlighting available benefits. If your team uses a digital portal or app, make sure this information is easily accessible and up to date. 4. Plan Ahead for PTO and Team Coverage Summer means vacations—and for working parents, this might be the only chance they get to spend extended time with their families. That’s why it’s crucial to encourage early vacation planning and transparent communication among teams. Strategies to support summer PTO: Ask employees to submit summer PTO requests as early as possible. Use shared calendars and collaborative tools to coordinate team coverage. Train back-up team members ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress. Consider adding a floating summer holiday or mental health day to give employees a breather. When employees feel supported in taking time off, they’re more likely to return refreshed and ready to re-engage. 5. Build a Family-Friendly Workplace Culture Supporting working parents isn’t just about policies—it’s about creating a culture of empathy and understanding. That starts with leadership modeling flexibility, and continues with teams who respect boundaries and accommodate personal obligations. Ideas to build culture: Create a parent resource group or Slack channel to exchange ideas and support. Share local summer camp or childcare resources in your company newsletter. Avoid scheduling late afternoon meetings that may interfere with family commitments. Celebrate family milestones or kid-friendly moments in a light-hearted way. These small cultural cues can go a long way in helping working parents feel seen, supported, and valued—especially during a season that’s often more stressful than relaxing. Final Thoughts Supporting working parents through summer break isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business strategy. Offering flexibility, benefits education, and an understanding culture helps companies retain top talent, foster loyalty, and create a healthier workplace for all. Need Guidance? At Simco, we specialize in helping businesses implement people-first policies and scalable benefit solutions. If you’re looking to enhance your workplace support for parents (or all employees), our specialists are here to guide you! Let’s talk about how we can help your workforce thrive—this summer and beyond.
Let’s be honest—mid-year reviews often don’t get the attention they deserve. They sneak up between vacations, project deadlines, and Q3 planning. But when done right, these check-ins can be one of the most valuable tools you have for keeping employees engaged, aligned, and growing. They’re not just about checking a box or filling out a form. Mid-year reviews are a chance to reconnect, recalibrate, and reenergize your team—and they can have a big impact on retention and performance. So, how do you make these conversations count? Let’s break it down. Why Mid-Year Reviews Actually Matter Think of the mid-year review as a strategic pit stop. You’ve made it halfway through the year—now’s the time to assess what’s working, what needs adjusting, and where your people want to grow. And here’s why that matters: Companies that implement regular performance feedback see 14.9% lower turnover rates than those that don’t, according to Gallup Employees who receive consistent feedback perform better and are more engaged overall, according to studies conducted by the Harvard Business Review Employees are far more likely to stay when they know their growth is supported The takeaway? People want feedback. But more importantly, they want useful feedback—along with the tools to take the next step forward. What to Ask: High-Impact Questions Performance reviews should feel like conversations, not interrogations. Open-ended, thoughtful questions help create space for honest dialogue. Below are a few ideas to keep the conversation flowing—and meaningful. Goals & Achievements What’s been your proudest accomplishment this year? What challenges have you worked through—and what did you learn? Are we on track with the goals we set earlier this year? Strengths & Value What are you most confident about in your role? Where do you feel you're making the biggest impact? Growth Opportunities Are there any skills you’re itching to develop? Where could we offer more support or resources? Looking Ahead Where do you see yourself a year from now? What kind of training or experiences would help you get there? This isn’t just about reviewing the past—it’s about setting the tone for the future. Turning Feedback into Development: Exploring the Role of Learning Management Systems Identifying growth opportunities during a performance review is just the first step—real transformation happens when you take action on that feedback. One effective way to support employee development is by leveraging a Learning Management System (LMS) . An LMS provides a structured and scalable way to turn feedback into forward momentum—whether you're preparing someone for a promotion or helping them build confidence in new skills. Key LMS features that support performance development include: Personalized learning paths aligned with individual or team goals Access to broad training libraries, including compliance and skill-building content Tools to track progress and measure learning impact Engaging elements like AI assistance, gamification, and peer learning These tools transform performance feedback into growth, helping businesses create a continuous learning culture. Look No Further At Simco , we support our clients through every stage of the performance management journey — from crafting the right review questions to delivering personalized, scalable learning opportunities. Our integrated HCM technology includes the isolved Learn & Grow Module, which features: 89,000+ courses including SCORM and state-compliant training Custom curriculums for individuals and teams AI-driven search and chatbot support Dashboards, reporting, gamification, and more Final Thoughts: Mid-Year Reviews Are a Strategic Lever Mid-year reviews are more than a checkpoint — they’re a chance to re-engage your team, show appreciation, and chart a clear path forward. When you treat them as an opportunity for dialogue, reflection, and action, the benefits ripple across retention, morale, and performance. Want to make your next round of reviews truly impactful? Let’s talk about how Simco can help streamline your process and empower your people.
Each spring, New York State enforces a residential burn ban from March 16 through May 14 to help prevent wildfires. As of yesterday, the ban has officially been lifted , but fire safety should remain top of mind. While the Finger Lakes has seen steady rain this week, the risk of fire can still escalate quickly with a few dry, breezy days. If you’re planning to burn brush, enjoy a backyard fire pit, or take part in spring clean-up, it’s important to do so with caution. Why Does the Burn Ban Exist? The annual burn ban is in place to reduce the threat of wildfires during one of the most vulnerable times of the year. In early spring, before trees and vegetation fully green up, dead grass, leaves, and branches are dry and highly flammable. Combined with seasonal winds and low humidity, even small outdoor fires can spark large, fast-moving wildfires—especially in rural areas. This proactive ban has proven to significantly lower the number of wildfires across the state each year, protecting homes, farmland, and natural habitats. What Homeowners Should Do Now With the ban lifted, it’s a good time to: Review your homeowners insurance to ensure you're protected against fire-related damages. Practice safe outdoor burning , such as keeping fires a safe distance from structures and never leaving them unattended. Consider additional coverage for properties with wooded acreage or high-risk features. At Simco , we’re here to help you navigate risks like these—before they become problems. Whether you need a policy review or simply want to make sure your coverage keeps pace with your lifestyle, we’re just a call or click away .
