Why are we seeing more health care professionals leaving their jobs or reducing their hours to spend more time with family or for themselves? The work ethic has changed drastically in recent years – and, post-pandemic, ‘quiet quitting’ is the new trend.

‘Quiet quitting’ is best described as mentally checking out of work for the sake of our health and wellbeing. Quiet quitters don’t leave jobs, but instead actively take steps to reset their work-life balance, rejecting the idea that work is life and that they are defined by what they do to earn money.

The phenomenon is nothing new – many of us have on occasion taken time to step back from the workplace to readjust the direction of our lives and reconsider what makes it meaningful.

This may lead to us question the concept of work as central to our existence and the notion that we should go above and beyond in order to succeed in our chosen career.

The pandemic has certainly led to an increase in the number of people reflecting on the imbalances in their lives. More recently, social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, have helped push this topic into the media spotlight and so “quiet quitting” has become on trend.

During Covid-19, many dental teams were pushed to extremes in order to deliver dentistry safely. Now, with a backlog of patients, the challenges continue to test even the most committed.

Dentist Nasreen Salem says, “I have found myself doing this without realising there was a label. I now try to make more time for family and friends and endeavour to create a better work/life balance. Going over and beyond at work, staying late and catching up on admin on your day off is eating into the little time we have for ourselves.”

Positive mental health and wellbeing is now very much at the forefront of a productive workforce and team. If this can be achieved by reducing hours and more time away from the workplace, then surely this is a good thing?

Nasreen says, “As an employer, I would much prefer a team member to be fully focused for the time they are there than experience burn out, resentment or disengage entirely.

“Building a team is knowing what is important to them and, by getting the right balance, you show that they are valued. In hard times, if an extra push or effort is needed, I’m sure they will be right by your side.”

Whilst the pandemic may have helped to put a spotlight on burnout and stress within dentistry, has there really been a seismic shift in attitude and behaviours, or does the backlog of patients mean everyone is still working too hard?

Nasreen continues, “The focus of my response is largely based on working within NHS dentistry. The pandemic and closing of dental surgeries did enable everyone to realise the level of stress that the working team was experiencing due to the pace at which they were working. The staged approach meant we were able to ease ourselves back in, but this was juxtaposed with the targets that had been implemented for contract holders.

“Targets being met was determined by patients attending their appointments and also being able to treat the high level of need that all dentists were now faced with. We now find ourselves working as we were pre-pandemic and the pause of the pandemic has been forgotten. The timings of appointments have been shortened, and we are working as we were with limited PPE.”

The workforce has changed dramatically due to the large number of dentists who have left the NHS. However, the needs of the population still remain.

So, is ‘quiet quitting’ about employees doing the bare minimum, is it a survival tactic, or is it more about setting boundaries?

Nasreen says, “There are many variations on the perception of what ‘quiet quitting’ means. For some, it is disengagement from their roles due to no longer feeling valued in their profession. This has a negative impact and employees will withdraw further from their work and the team.

“For others, it is placing more emphasis on their family and social life so that their everyday does not revolve around work. They work well but within the confines of their contracted working hours. For me, the latter is a healthier way to be – it is imperative to have a healthy work-life balance.”

So, should anyone who ‘quiet quits’ feel guilty about this?

“Quietly quitting can happen without being realised,’ Nasreen says. “When you feel undervalued or unsupported, you disengage and withdraw from the rest of the team. You still turn up, and complete your work to a high standard, but within your working hours.”

In which case, can ‘quiet quitting’ be a risk to a career?Nasreen believes this is very much dependent on practice owners and managers.

She says, “if they have noticed a change in your behaviour or withdrawal from your team, this can lead down two paths. One would be to encourage and empower you to achieve more or upskill, and the other would be to allow you to continue whilst they are searching for a replacement.”

Lifestyle demands change all the time so arguably it might be prudent for practice owners to discuss individual needs in regular one-to-one catch-ups.

Nasreen believes this to be a fundamental part of good management and leadership.

“Within my practice, we have one-to-one meetings, appraisals and discussions about upskilling on a regular basis. This allows all team members to discuss concerns but also explore their own ambition and how we as a practice and team can support that.”

So, what could the future of dentistry look like if teams work together to reduce stress, manage time and communicate better in the workplace?

Nasreen says, “There is a lot of scope for better teamwork in dental practices. As a profession, working within the confines of four clinical walls for hours at a time can be very isolating. It is difficult to be able to communicate with other members of the team. One aspect I have found works for me is having short huddles – a morning huddle to inform everyone of any changes for the day ahead, but also to re-energise, re-focus and re-enforce the vision and patient journey.

“The relationship between the clinician, dental nurse, and receptionist has to be understanding of individual needs – and there has to be open communication. What this would mean for the future is a more positive and healthier work environment, ultimately leading to a better outcome for all the patients we serve.”

Author: