Welcome to QuitTok! Gen Z employees lauded by Prince Harry for quitting work due to 'bad management, toxic work culture and long hours' celebrate their resignations on social media - but some admit they 'don't have a plan B'
- Gen Z workers are making their resignations public on TikTok and Twitter
- #quitmyjob has 194.1million views on TikTok, while #iquitmyjob has 40.9million
- Comes amid the 'Great Resignation' that has been sparked by the pandemic
Frustrated Gen Z workers are celebrating their resignations in highly public social media posts.
Amid the 'Great Resignation', young people in the US and UK are posting TikTok videos and Instagram reels of the moment they said: 'I quit'. The hashtag quitmyjob has 194.1million views on TikTok, while #iquitmyjob has 40.9million.
The Reddit forum R/antiwork - where people share thoughts on leaving work, the drawbacks of work, and why society as a whole should work less - has seen a surge of subscribers this year.
On Twitter, workers share screenshots of text exchanges with their bosses. One reads: 'Mail me my check. I quit.'
It comes after Prince Harry came under fire for advising people who feel 'stuck in jobs that don't bring them joy' to quit and said leaving work was something to be 'celebrated', nearly two years after his acrimonious departure from the Royal Family.
Although the public resignations pre-date Harry's comments, the Duke would no doubt approve of the trend after saying that a wave of pandemic resignations was 'to be celebrated'.
Amid the 'Great Resignation', young people are posting TikTok videos and Instagram reels of the moment they said: 'I quit'. Above, Hunter Aleece (left), from the US, went viral with her clip. Above right, an Irish user named Rachel who revealed how she quit and went travelling
The reasons are varied. Complaints of a toxic work environment, bad management and unreasonable hours often accompany the resignation posts. Others simply 'don't enjoy what they do'.
One man, who has the funds to continue travelling even after quitting, said simply: 'I'm not wasting my life away working a job I hate!'
It is not clear in all cases whether the people resigning on so-called 'QuitTok' have another job lined up, or how they intend to support themselves.
Some paint themselves as inspirational figures. One woman declares at the start of her video: 'This is proof to quit that job you hate and do what you want', before sharing a mini-movie of the holiday she enjoyed with her boyfriend after quitting.
The reasons why people are #quitting - bad bosses, bad hours, and feeling overworked - have been around for centuries. But they have come into sharper focus in the wake of the pandemic.
@rachellouisekelly This is your sign #quitmyjob #barcelona #foryoupage
♬ Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
The reasons for quitting are varied. Complaints of a toxic work environment, bad management and unreasonable hours often accompany the resignation posts. Above, one woman from the US said she was quitting because of bad management. She did not name the company
One American woman cited mental health as the reason for a change in her job (left). Right, another woman from the US who said she quit her job 'without a back-up plan'
Some TikTok users, like Jack from the US, go so far as to share their resignation letters. Others record their phone conversations with their bosses
@kileerainbow excited to focus on myself, my family + my mental health #quittingmyjob #mentalhealth
♬ Silenzio Bruno. Chiquitita by ABBA slowed - ur loved <3< a>
The result is the 'Great Resignation'. America’s quitting rate is historically high, reaching 3 percent this autumn. In the UK, one study found as many as one in four workers is actively planning to change employers in the next few months.
Laura Trendall-Morrison, founder of the GameChanger Consultancy, said: 'Popular opinion suggests the disruptions of the past 18 months due to Covid and other issues have caused individuals to question values, work life balance and their core purpose in the context of how this relates to social engagement and well-being.
'The opportunity to reflect has given people the opportunity to determine if their work makes them fulfilled and engaged.'
James Routledge, author of Mental Health at Work and founder of workplace mental health organisation Sanctus, agreed: 'You could call it the great resignation, I prefer to think of it as the great awakening. We're all becoming increasingly aware of our mental health and many of us are making decisions that prioritise our mental health, even if they're counter cultural.
@itsmarisajo It’s like an elephant took its foot off my chest, but I’m also sad. Onward & upward 懶 #quittingcorporate #quittingmyjob #HelloWinter #9to5problems
♬ Dog Days Are Over - Florence & The Machine
The Reddit forum R/antiwork - where people share thoughts on leaving work, the drawbacks of work, and why society as a whole should work less - has seen a surge of subscribers this year. Employees also share screenshots of their text exchanges with their bosses (pictured)
'Long ago people put on their suit and tie and left their soul at home when they went to work. How do you do that when you suddenly work from home? The pandemic has left us all asking some big, existential questions.
'We'll see more people leaving jobs, turning down promotions, taking career breaks and changing their career too. This is all a result of people prioritising their mental health and exploring who they are, what they care about and how they want to live in this world.'
People are also leaving for positive reasons. There have been reports of salary surges amid candidate shortages, meaning people might leave an employer for a comparable, but better paid role, at a competitor. Others are changing industries completely.
Some TikTok creators tell how resigning gave them the push they needed to start their own business, or even, in some cases, become full-time social media stars.
The rise of hybrid working models means workers can also seek out opportunities in locations that might have previously been unavailable. There is also greater choice regarding working from home arrangements.
But these real-life practical issues are often absent from the most popular QuitTok videos. The point of these clips is simple: I quit, and you can too.
However experts warn against such public posts, with Trendall Morrison explaining: 'If you ask those who post, why they would do this, at the risk of their future career, the answer is invariably to “get them to change” or to “help other employees”. It is rarely for individual reasons, and more about raising awareness of poor practice.
'However, is having your say and the 15 minutes of fame, the congratulatory comments and virtual high fives really worth it, or is it damaging to future job prospects and reputation?
'In the age of social media, it is standard practice for recruiters to search and scan social media accounts to see if somebody is a good fit for the role, what their conduct is like, and whether they are a good fit for the company.
'That includes assessing whether the possible recruit will be an asset, and add value to the company, or a liability which could damage the company’s reputation and brand value. Those who publish notes of resignation on Tik Tok and other forms of social media would certainly be put into the latter category.'
Claire Brown, a career change coach based in Berkshire, agreed: 'Advertising your decision to resign on a platform such as TikTok may lead others to conclude that you've taken the decision lightly, that you don't take your career progression seriously or care about how you could be perceived by prospective employers or recruiters.
'If you’ve decided that you need to quit a role suddenly, do your best to leave well. Whilst it may be challenging, try to end the working relationship effectively. You may need to request a reference or recommendation for future roles or find yourself within similar networking spaces, so it’s worth making the effort to safeguard your reputation as this will inevitably impact your future career prospects.'
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