'Dream Jobs Are DEAD': Quiet Quitting is the TikTok Trend Encouraging Employees to Take It Easy at Work Young professionals are learning to say 'no' to more and 'yes' to less as they face burnout.

By Jordan Hart

This story originally appeared on Business Insider

Image credit: Rod/TikTok via BI

As Gen-Z enters the corporate world and millennials begin to experience burnout, never going above and beyond on the job is the latest trend young professionals are following.

The trend of "quiet quitting" on TikTok is taking off as millennials encourage the upcoming generation of employees to avoid overextending themselves at work.

Josh Bittinger, who works at a management consulting company, explained to the Wall Street Journal that the idea of "quiet quitting" is less about being lazy on the job and more about avoiding burnout at work.

The whole idea of taking it easier at work is about learning to stop saying "yes" to everything, and to say "no" when you need time for yourself, according to Bittinger.

A 2022 global workplace report from Gallup determined that only 21% of employees were engaged at work, and most didn't find their work meaningful following the pandemic.

That statistic is apparent in content posted by TikTokers under the app's corporate hashtag. Thousands of users praise viral videos discouraging anyone from going the extra mile on the job.

@loewhaley #corporate #millennial #worklife #wfh ♬ original sound - Karen Chen

The Guardian speculates that the online trend could owe its origins to Chinese social media where the hashtag #TangPing, which means "lying flat" and refers to the country's typically long work hours, was censored by the government, according to the report.

One user brought up a quote circulating at her workplace: "'Hard work is rewarded…with more hard work,'" the comment read.

Another TikToker encouraged fellow millennials to update their resumés as they entered the "corporate villain era" of putting their mental health first.

"The idea of dream jobs are DEAD," one commenter wrote. "I only dream about leisure time and having enough money for coffee every morning."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

This AI is the Key to Unlocking Explosive Sales Growth in 2025

Tired of the hustle? Discover a free, hidden AI from Google that helped me double sales and triple leads in a month. Learn how this tool can analyze campaigns and uncover insights most marketers miss.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

A New Hampshire City Was Named the Hottest Housing Market in the U.S. This Year. Here's the Top 10 for 2024.

Zillow released its annual lists featuring the top housing markets, small towns, coastal cities, and geographic regions. Here's a look at the top real estate markets and towns in 2024.

Business News

'We're Not Allowed to Own Bitcoin': Crypto Price Drops After U.S. Federal Reserve Head Makes Surprising Statement

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Bitcoin and rate cuts have rattled cryptocurrency investors.

Business Ideas

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

You can't plan for the new year until you complete these checkups.