TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Miss Liu, a beverage store manager, started at an entry-level position before getting to her current role. However, over the years, she has noticed a shift in employees' willingness to work.
"They would prefer to start and get off work on time. They don't want to do any extra tasks. We have a meeting every morning during which I will briefly tell them what we will be doing for the day to avoid any situation where they will have to work overtime," said Liu Ruo-hsin, a manager at a beverage shop
Employees are not looking for a promotion and not looking to do extra work. This is all a part of the "Lie Flat" or "Quiet Quitting" movement, describing those who just want to relax and get paid by doing the bare minimum.
Experts say that a stagnant economy, sluggish job market, and low motivation among individuals may be reasons why this generation is more inclined just to keep a job while they strive for a work-life balance.
"More people now want to get off work on time. They don't want more responsibilities or to work overtime. They want to work close to home. Getting off on time means more time for themselves. They don’t want to spend most of their time at work," said Liu Ruo-hsin, the manager of a beverage shop.
According to reports, Baby boomers and the Generation X, those born between the 1940s and 1980s, are more prone to agree to the idea that working hard translates into more personal and career achievements. They are also less resistant to working overtime or on weekends.
However, Millennials and the Gen Z generations have different opinions. They are more interested in pursuing quality of life and are not as open to working overtime or working extra hard to get a promotion.
According to data from a job bank, 26% of 1,000 people surveyed said they don't believe in the "work as hard as possible culture.”Also, 21% of respondents said they are currently "Quiet Quitting," meaning they will only do what they are paid to do.
The CEO of the Taiwan Labor and Social Policy Research Association, Chang Feng-yih shared some insight: "When a laborer is at work, they don't get any satisfaction from working hard. If their company makes any profit, whether they will get any benefits from it is a question. So, I think this is what is making workers feel a certain way at work. They then believe that I'm just here to receive my fixed salary, so I will become very passive, not proactive."
Experts say that many are falling into this quiet quitting trend, as they are now putting their mental and physical health higher on their list of priorities. And many also believe that, no matter how hard they work, they likely won’t get that promotion or a pay raise anyway, so they might just lie down and relax.
"There are situations where the staff works overtime, but do not get paid for it. And some simply haven't put too much thought into their future job developments or are pessimistic about it. I recommend they discuss this with their manager or human resources, and maybe some adjustments can be made," said Huang Ruo-wei, the spokesperson of a human resources bank
Experts suggest that with the current "Lie Flat" and "Quiet Quitting" culture, employers can have a more proactive approach in positively encouraging their staff, such as providing a raise when the company makes profits. This will likely have a positive effect and increase the competitiveness of both workers and management.
As many are now falling short of motivation to try harder and strive for more, how employers can boost the willingness and eagerness of employees is an important question. But most importantly, individuals have to think about what type of life they want and plan for the future because you never know what may happen next, and it is always best to be prepared.
