OVERWORKED & UNDERPAID WORKER BROKE DOWN, NOW DOES BARE MINIMUM AT WORK & IS HAPPIER

I’ve been “quiet quitting ” for a week and have never been more relaxed.

I work in a high-stress medical setting and have been for 8 years now. I’ve always been talk to go above and beyond for work.

Over the last 4 years I’ve been increasingly burnt out and my salary does not seem to match my effort.

However this past week, after a particularly nasty mental breakdown a few weeks ago, I’ve been doing the bare job requirements and it’s been lovely. I now feel like I have more energy for my life outside of work, and more energy to further myself personally.

Remember it’s only a job, do what you have to and clock out.

Netizens’ comments

1. Can we stop calling doing the job you are paid to do “Quiet Quitting”? That is just marketing capitalists are doing to make it out to be something bad.
   You are just doing exactly what they are paying you to do.
2. agree with you. Last year I really made an effort to leave work right on time. I wasn’t staying just to finish work I could do the next day. I don’t stay to “chat” with coworkers talking about work because it’s not worth it, I just bounce and leave once my time is done. I think that simple thing for me has helped me tremendously because I’m putting myself first.
3. I learned the term “quiet quitting” last year, I’ve been doing that my entire working life, 20+ years. Doing pretty good, work hasn’t stressed me in 15 years since changing careers.
4. Other than retaining my job, I have zero reasons to “go above and beyond.” I could be saving the company money on in office goods as well as negotiating better terms but there’s so much yellow tape and lack of wage increases that I won’t be doing that at all.
5. The only people that profit from going “above and beyond” are executives and owners shareholders.
6. I work in healthcare and I’ve had periods where I’ve only done the bare minimum or less. It does feel like a thankless job sometimes.
   I’ve also had periods where I’ve gone above and beyond, but mostly in an effort to make my work environment better for myself and my coworkers. I’ve led lots of projects and committees about safety issues and process improvements. It usually isn’t appreciated, I feel most of my managers hate me because I call them out on their crap. But at the end of the day I feel like I’m providing the best care I can for our patients, and hopefully a little peace of mind for myself.