‘Quiet quitting’ and managerial overreach

Sir, – Further to “Quiet quitting: You always had workers who did 9-5 but it’s a creeping malaise, employers say” (Business, April 25th), I suggest that workers who wish to depart at the time stated in their contract submit an application to do so. It would be appropriate if they signed it off as “your humble and obedient servant”. – Yours, etc,

PAT SMYTH,

Mulranny,

Co Mayo.

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Sir, – A colleague was told by a manager that he (the manager) was working at his desk until 7pm the previous evening.

My “empathetic” colleague remarked: “It’s a pity they didn’t employ someone who could do the job 9 to 5.” – Yours, etc,

ALEC QUINN,

Caherdavin,

Limerick.

A chara, – Olive Keogh tells us that employees who work normal workings hours and complete their assigned workload to the same (often high) standard as others are now being branded as “quiet quitters” because they are not available to “chip in” if there is a crisis .

The naming and shaming of people who are doing a good job is clearly designed to intimidate others to “chip in” as a matter of “custom and practice”, to put it in HR jargon.

This is bananas.

Employers and managers should be asking themselves how can they get everyone else to do their job in normal working hours.

Or else they need to be honest and add a “chip in” clause to their employee contracts, including appropriate terms of advance notice and remuneration or time-off in lieu.

In a time when LinkedIn company profiles are full of boasts about their latest diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives, they should also consider how they might capture the value of having a diversity of employees who have the good sense and strength of character to make time for other interests like singing in a choir, training a team, running an allotment, writing a book, putting kids to bed, helping an elderly neighbour, playing the guitar, going for a run, working for the Samaritans, gazing at the stars, or whatever else apart from their work that makes them a better human being. – Is mise,

HUGH MURRAY,

Kilkee,

Co Clare.

Sir, – Perhaps employees would be willing to go the extra mile during work hours if such a significant proportion of their weekends were not spent stood at a machine trying and retrying to recycle their bottles and cans. – Yours, etc,

NIALL MURPHY,

Glenageary,

Co Dublin.