Today’s Work Ethic

Sabreen Hussain, Writer

As many of us advance and graduate from school, being employed in the workforce is what we hope to achieve in the future. School rigorously prepares us to be able to work in almost any environment and ensure success. Over the decades, we’ve seen many changes in labor through new technology and ideas. Has the standard for working careers transformed as well?

Recently, a new term has been floating around, “quiet quitting.” Quiet quitting refers to doing the minimum requirements of one’s job and putting in no further time, effort, or enthusiasm than is absolutely necessary. Mr. Wonderful, a host on the popular show Shark Tank, says he’s not willing to hire people who don’t work, “25 hours a day, 8 days a week.” Explaining that, “if you’re shutting off your laptop at 5 pm and going home, you’re not working for me.” He goes on to say, “Personal happiness is something that is a balance between work and life, it has nothing to do with nine-to-five. There is no balance in the pursuit of personal freedom. It is all out, pedal to the metal.” Ambition is the opposite of quiet quitting and is what pushes people who willingly volunteer to work well beyond what they’re paid to do.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, is one of the most successful businessmen and is considered the richest person in the world with a net worth of $171 billion. He recently bought Twitter causing hundreds of employees to quit after he demanded they commit to a new “hardcore” work environment. Twitter executive, Sinead McSweeney, says she’s been working more than 75 hours a week because Musk has fired so many people since he took over the company. The billionaire has said he’s worked as much as 120 hours per week, and he’s slept on Tesla’s factory floor, as well as the floor of Twitter’s headquarters. He expects a similar devotion from his workers.

Although none of us are paid to come to school and do our work, how many of us subconsciously quiet quit? Do you agree with the idea or is it too steadfast? Whatever your opinion may be, it’s clear work ethic has changed over the years and we must adapt.