The rise of 'Quiet Quitting' and presenteeism in workforces...

We’ve previously discussed Gen-Z and their enthusiasm for their own return on investment when it comes to work; they’ve made it clear that they’re interested in wellbeing and a true work-life balance. But what’s happening if they don’t have the support or the wellbeing, they feel they need?

Two words: Quiet Quitting.

Quiet Quitting seems to be the new rising problem within workforces; it’s when staff are really disengaging from their jobs or work and not putting in much effort. The term covers all employees at any age, it’s just been given a new label by Gen-Z on social media. In occupational health and HR terms, people are suffering from extreme or high levels of presenteeism.

Recognizing the signs of Presenteeism and ‘Quiet Quitting’

Employees may be experiencing presenteeism and signs of ‘quiet quitting’ if they feel that their mental health and wellbeing aren’t being supported at work. Negative or poor mental health can mean that employees aren’t focussed as they have other things on their mind. If they’re struggling with workload and stress, and don’t have the right coping mechanisms, they may find it difficult to complete tasks and overall, they can end up feeling dissatisfied at work, getting closer to the idea of leaving or going on long-term sick.

How can occupational health reduce absenteeism?

Investing in occupational health and making sure that employees feel supported and comfortable is crucial when trying to reduce presenteeism and any absences. Supporting mental health can prevent people from getting to the stage of ‘quiet quitting’ and help employees remain engaged when it comes to work. It also will help those who are disengaged from work by giving them a positive focus and coping strategies, making work more manageable and less overwhelming.

Can personal life issues affect work performance?

Presenteeism can also occur when there are things going on in an employee’s personal life. Whilst their problems or negative mental health might not be caused by work, what’s going on elsewhere can impact how they feel at work or when completing tasks. Having support in the workplaces means that employees know they have somewhere to turn to if they feel as though they need it and it can help them cope with what’s going on in their personal-life and keep it more separated from work.

Supporting employees benefits everyone

It's clear that supporting staff through whatever it is they’re going through, ensures that staff have ways to feel better and then in turn, work performances will be better- it benefits everyone. After all, a healthy workforce, means a healthy business…