As much as necessary, as little as possible (nd-aktuell.de)

Anyone who is unfamiliar with the term »silent resignation« might think that this is about leaving one’s workplace inconspicuously. However, behind him and his English counterpart “Quiet Quitting” lies a multifaceted discussion about working conditions that does not require any actual layoffs. With more than 153 million views on the short video platform Tiktok, the phenomenon has been hotly debated since August of this year. Above all, the wording of the “termination” causes ongoing controversy.

Silent resignation is understood to mean the practice of only doing one’s own job as far as is actually required – without overtime, being available after work or taking on additional tasks. It is similar to the German “Service according to regulations” and is mainly used by office workers. This attitude may not necessarily be new, but the catchphrase and the discussion about it are.

Many see the phenomenon as a logical consequence of the current situation in which employees are currently finding themselves. With salaries stagnating and the cost of living rising at the same time, it is hardly surprising that people develop a critical attitude towards a work culture that promotes burnout. The corona pandemic is also seen as an additional factor of disillusionment, in the course of which the focus has shifted more to one’s own quality of life.

However, most workers have no way of surviving financially without wage labor. Silent resignation can therefore be a way to detach yourself from work without losing your income.

Quiet resignation is not welcomed by everyone, however, but dismissed by some as the laziness of the younger generations. The management magazine »Harvard Business Review« also argues in a neoliberal and pragmatic way: »Companies are dependent on their employees meeting additional requirements if necessary.« They are joined by other voices that recommend employees to actually quit if they consider their work to be little feel meaningful.

However, the biggest point of criticism for most employees is the name itself. Many see a contradiction between the term “silent resignation” and its meaning “work to rule”. A Tiktokerin summarizes it in one of her videos: »The term confuses me. Isn’t that called just working, doing your job, with healthy boundaries?” The word “quit” in this context suggests subtly that firing employees who don’t take on additional responsibilities is justified. The blame is thus placed on the dismissed.

This criticism is widespread among those who find the approach behind silent cancellation understandable or even good. Some of them therefore prefer the term “acting your wage”, which can be translated as “acting according to one’s salary”.

The Federal Statistical Office reported in July 2022 that twelve percent of all employees work overtime, of which almost a quarter receive no compensation for the additional work. It is hardly surprising that some now only want to do the work that has been agreed. The corporate world’s latest response to “quiet quitting,” however, does not bode well: “quiet firing” subtly forces employees out of their jobs. An improved world of work does not seem to be in sight at first.