If you’ve been around Gen Z and Millenial workers, you’ve probably heard about “quiet quitters” and “loud laborers.”
Well, when those passive-aggressive bids for attention failed to impress their employers, the overwhelmed young workers came up with a brilliant path to raises and respect: “Act Your Wage.”
It is “the latest message many American workers are sending their bosses as a way to express their career concerns and pushback against burnout,” according to FOX Business, and it’s got some labor experts concerned.
“Simply put, acting your wage is a quick and easy way to get left behind in your career,” Richard Wahlquist, CEO of the American Staffing Association, told FOX Business.”Employees who refuse to do more than the bare minimum will lose new opportunities to coworkers who show initiative and drive.”
The “Act Your Wage” movement isn’t new.
As BizPac Review reported back in September 2022, the trend went viral after TikTok content creator Sarai Marie posted a video satirizing the “quiet quitting” trend which had young workers boasting about how little effort they put into their jobs.
@saraisthreads #greenscreen I’d rather spend time with my family. #actyourwage #fyp #work #working #corporate #corporatelife #corporatetiktok #corporateamerica #corporatehumor #office #officelife #manager #managersbelike #career #quietquitting #quietquittingmyjob ♬ original sound – Sarai Marie
The younger generation took the message to heart, and the spineless trend spread like wildfire.
@kelseynotkels If you know me from work, no you don’t. #actyourwage #work #resturantlife #minimumwage #minimumwagecheck #poppunk #lgbtq #wlw #gaygirl #fyp ♬ original sound – stephanie anne
“When you’re part of a team, sometimes you have to go above and beyond your job description,” Wahlquist noted, adding, “acting your wage is a short-sighted idea, even for those who don’t want to advance in their careers.”
“Acting your wage can make you expendable in the event of company layoffs,” he cautioned workers. “If you’re doing the bare minimum at your job, why would a boss choose you over someone who’s shown a willingness to put in extra effort to help the company succeed?”
Instead, Wahlquist suggests talking to your boss about your “burnout.”
“Burnout hits at the heart of the employer-employee relationship,” he told FOX Business. “Employees experiencing burnout should speak to their employers about what priorities should take precedence. In addition, employees can see if their organizations offer any employee assistance programs to help them effectively manage their stress levels.”
In addition to voicing your workload concerns, Michelle Reisdorf, Chicago-based district president at Robert Half, an international HR consulting firm, suggests employees should schedule blocks of time to focus on key assignments and take microbreaks away from their desks.
“If you can’t get outside, look away from the computer and focus on a non-work-related activity for a few minutes,” Reisdorf suggested.
Worn-out workers should also request time off to focus on family and hobbies.
“Try to disconnect completely while away to get the greatest benefit,” Reisdorf said.
If all else fails and you’re still unable to give the job your all, Wahlquist suggests you look for another place to work.
“When workers choose to ‘act their wage’ and do the bare minimum at their job,” he said, “it’s a sign that their current role may no longer be the right fit for them.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.