A chat with my boss about 'quiet quitting' really got me thinking

Ryan Ellis · 2026-04-04T18:10:05.157487+00:00

We were talking about a project that was behind, and she said, 'I don't mind if someone works their 40 hours and logs off, but I need to know they're fully on during those hours.' It hit different because I've been doing the bare minimum for months, just putting in time. She wasn't mad, just clear. It made me rethink if I'm protecting my time or just being checked out. Has anyone else had a manager point that out in a way that didn't feel like an attack?

markhall6mo ago

That's a solid point from your boss, and @carr.brooke is right about the cause. The tricky part is figuring out if you're checked out because of the job itself or just general burnout, which needs different fixes.

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danielhenderson6mo ago

Honestly, that sounds like a pretty good boss to me.

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carr.brooke6mo ago

Your boss makes a fair point, but the real issue is why people check out. Bad work culture makes you want to protect your time.

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