“Quiet quitters” — employees who are simply meeting their job description — make up at least 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to a Gallup poll. This trend has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the workplace got worse for young professionals. Between working remotely and limited interaction with colleagues, employees’ motivation and drive waned. Are you among that group?

Reality Check

Most jobs require some level of extra effort to collaborate with coworkers and meet customer needs. Recent studies, however, reveal a drop in employee engagement due to a lack of clear expectations, limited growth opportunities, not feeling valued, and no connection to the overall mission. In short, the gap between employers and employees is growing, leading employees to become disengaged.

Remote Gen Z and young professionals under age 35, seem to be most affected, according to Gallup, which shows a significant decline in employer satisfaction and engagement among that group. They feel uncared for in the workplace with no one supporting their professional development. What’s more alarming, young remote and hybrid employees do not have a clear understanding of what is expected of them at work. Manager must recognize that it's their responsibility to direct, encourage, and support their team — no matter where they are on their career journey.