Over half of U.S. workers may be ‘quiet quitting’—and it’s been that way for decades

The idea of “quiet quitting” has taken social media by storm, as young workers on TikTok and other platforms argue that employees should only do what is required in their job description, and no more.

But a recent survey from Gallup suggests that the practice of quiet quitting is not just a social media fad. The survey firm found that around 50% of U.S. workers were “not engaged,” meaning they felt detached from work and were doing the bare minimum, similar to the idea of “quiet quitting.” Gallup interviewed more than 15,000 workers over the age of 18 throughout June 2022. 

Gallup’s data also show that “quiet quitting” isn’t a new trend. Gallup surveys dating back to 2000 find that the number of “not engaged” workers has never dropped below 50%, meaning that most U.S. workers have been feeling detached at work for decades.