Unpacking the Quiet Quitting Phenomenon: The Role of Work Stress in the Workload and Work-Life Balance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20414/jed.v6i3.11643Keywords:
quite quitting, generation Z, work stress, workload, work-life balanceAbstract
Purpose: This study explores the role of work stress as a mediator in the relationship between workload, work-life balance, and the phenomenon of quiet quitting among Generation Z employees.
Method: The research adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing a random sampling technique. Data were collected from 156 Generation Z employees in West Sumatra through a structured questionnaire designed to assess workload, work-life balance, work stress, and quiet quitting behaviors. The collected data were analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0 to examine the relationships among these variables.
Result: The findings found that workload has a significant impact on work stress, while work-life balance does not significantly affect work stress. Similarly, workload significantly influences quiet quitting, but work-life balance does not. Work stress is also found to significantly impact quiet quitting. However, work stress does not mediate the relationship between workload and quiet quitting. In contrast, work stress does mediate the relationship between work-life balance and quiet quitting.
Practical Implications for Economic Growth and Development: This study provides practical insights for businesses in West Sumatra to better manage workloads and support work-life balance initiatives. By addressing workload-related stress and fostering a healthier work-life balance, organizations can reduce quiet quitting, thereby improving employee well-being, engagement, and overall productivity. These improvements contribute to sustainable economic growth and development.
Downloads
References
Ahmed, S., & Khan, A. (2020). Work-life balance as a moderator between workload and job satisfaction: A study of millennials. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 10(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijhrs.v10i3.17445
Alghamdi, H., & Alharthi, M. (2024). Quiet quitting and its organizational impacts. Emerald Insight, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019364
Amin, R., Nor, Z., & Ahmad, N. (2022). Work-life balance and employee retention: A study on Generation Z. Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(2), 150–163. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1992.14.02.164
Bae, S., & Yang, J. (2022). Quiet quitting: A new approach to employee engagement. Journal of Business Research, 1(2), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijhrs.v10i3.17445
Bai, Y., et al. (2023). Exploring the link between workload and emotional exhaustion among employees: The moderating role of support mechanisms. Journal of Applied Psychology, 37(2), 119–131.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2021). The job demands-resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Barnett, R. C., & Hyde, J. S. (2021). Women, men, work, and family: An expansion of the conceptualization of the work-family interface. Psychological Bulletin, 127(6), 701–724. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.127.6.701
Clark, S. C. (2020). Work/family border theory: A new theory of work/family balance. Human Relations, 53(6), 747–770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.06.001
Crawford, E. R., LePine, J. A., & Rich, B. L. (2021). Linking job demands and resources to employee engagement and burnout: A theoretical extension and meta-analytic test. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(5), 834–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019364
Davies, R., Patel, S., & Li, Y. (2022). The impact of workload on quiet quitting in retail: A psychological perspective. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 50(4), 620–635. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Davis, R. E., & Thompson, P. M. (2021). The mediation of work stress in the relationship between work-life balance and employee engagement. Journal of Business Research, 134(7), 108–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.06.001
Fikri Zaidan, A., & Juariyah, L. (2020). The influence of workloads on the job satisfaction of the lecturers of State University of Malang through job stress as an intervening variable. KnE Social Sciences, 2020, 156–176. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v4i9.7323
Gonzalez, C., & Palacios, A. (2022). The influence of work-life balance on employee retention: Evidence from millennials. Journal of Management Studies, 59(5), 1204–1223. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12775
González-Romá, V., Hernández, M. A., & García, M. L. (2022). The mediating role of work stress in the relationship between workload and job satisfaction. Journal of Business Research, 139(6), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.012
Greenhaus, J. H., & Allen, T. D. (n.d.). Work-family balance: A review and extension of the literature. Work-Family Balance: A Review and Extension of the Literature, 3(1), 29–35.
Grzywacz, J. G., & Bass, B. L. (2020). Work-life balance and health outcomes: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 41(3), 309–325. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2380
Haar, J. M., McDonnell, L., & Sune, A. (2020). Work-life balance and employee wellbeing: The role of job demands. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 40(8). https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2351
Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): An emerging tool in business research. European Business Review, 26(2), 106–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-10-2013-0128
Hill, E. J., Ferris, M., & Märtinson, V. (2021). Does work-life balance influence work stress? The role of organizational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(5), 600–617. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000776
Jex, S. M., & Bliese, P. D. (2020). Efficacy of stress management interventions in organizations: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(4), 590–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.84.4.590
Jiang, L., & Luo, X. (2023). Organizational stressors and quiet quitting behavior: A study on Generation Z in China. Asian Business Research Journal, 15(1), 45–57. https://doi.org/10.1108/ABR-04-2023-0014
Johnson, M., & Lee, S. (2023). Workload, job satisfaction, and employee disengagement: The impact of stress in contemporary workplaces. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 45(3), 112–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.job.2023.01.008
Johnson, R., & Smith, A. (2022). Balancing workloads: The impact on job satisfaction and engagement among Generation Z. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 43(4), 560–577.
Jones, F., Bright, J., & Clough, P. (2020). The influence of work-life balance on stress and health. Occupational Health Psychology Review, 11(3), 128–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/ohp0000123
Kachhap, V., & Singh, T. (2024). Quiet quitting: A comprehensive exploration of hidden problems. Development and Learning in Organizations, 38(5), 23–26. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-10-2023-0214
Kalliath, T., & Kalliath, P. (2020). Work-life balance: A review of the literature and research agenda. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 58(4), 431–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12278
Karapetrou, A. (2023). The influence of job burnout on quiet quitting among nurses: The mediating effect of job satisfaction. Research Square, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1396191/v1
Kelly, M., Soles, R., Garcia, E., & Kundu, I. (2020). Job stress, burnout, work-life balance, well-being, and job satisfaction among pathology residents and fellows. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 153(4), 449–469. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqaa013
Kim, H. J., & Lee, M. (2022). Work-life balance and its impact on work stress and organizational commitment: A comparative study. Journal of Business Research, 135(7), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.004
Kompier, M., & Kristensen, T. S. (2021). The impact of workload and job stressors on employee well-being. Work and Stress, 35(2), 163–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2021.1876751
Kumar, V., & Jain, R. (2021). Understanding quiet quitting in the modern workplace: A case study of Generation Z. Journal of Workplace Learning, 33(7), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-01-2021-0032
Kwan, H. K., & Lee, J. (2021). The effect of work stress on organizational commitment and job satisfaction among employees. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32(7), 1534–1556. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1809920
Lee, K., & Wang, C. (2020). The impact of work stress on employee performance and quiet quitting: A focus on managerial factors. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 90(3), 34–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102619
Lee, R. T., & Ashforth, B. E. (2020). A meta-analytic examination of the correlates of the three dimensions of job burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(2), 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.2.123
Leka, S., Griffiths, A., & Cox, T. (2023). Work organization and stress: Systematic problem approaches for employers, managers, and practitioners. World Health Organization, 12(1), 23–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53704-7_3
Martinez, L., & Petrova, E. (2023). Digital transformation and work-life balance: Implications for quiet quitting. Journal of Management Studies, 60(5), 1200–1225. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12916
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2020). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
Miller, J., & Walker, S. B. (2023). Stress and disengagement: The link between work-life balance and quiet quitting. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 59(2), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886322112458
Nguyen, T., & Tran, M. (2023). Generation Z and work-life balance: Challenges and strategies. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(2), 321–339.
Oakman, J., Kinsman, N., Stuckey, R., Graham, M., & Weale, V. (2020). A rapid review of mental and physical health effects of working at home: How do we optimise health? BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09875-z
Pan, S., et al. (2022). The effects of work overload on employee well-being: A multi-sector analysis. International Journal of Stress Management, 29(4), 220–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1809920
Pérez, L., & Romero, J. (2021). Flexible work arrangements: A solution to work-life balance for millennials and Generation Z. Journal of Business Management, 15(4), 333–348.
Pratama, A. (2023). Quiet quitting in the retail industry: Factors contributing to reduced employee engagement in Indonesia. Indonesian Management Research Institute, 3(1), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1809920
Qureshi, M. I., Iftikhar, M., Abbas, S. G., Hassan, U., Khan, K., & Zaman, K. (2023). Relationship between job stress, workload, environment, and employees' turnover intentions: What we know, what should we know. World Applied Sciences Journal, 23(6), 764–770. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.23.06.313
Ramadhi, R., Sarianti, K., & Desti, Y. (2023). Organizational commitment to mediate workload and compensation on work productivity at Madina Bukittinggi Hospital. Journal of Management, 6(3). http://exsys.iocspublisher.org/index.php/JMAS/article/view/298
Rantanen, J. (2020). Workload and its impact on job stress: An empirical study in high-pressure environments. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 25(1), 35–48.
Sari, R. (2023). The influence of work-life balance on employee well-being and the quiet quitting phenomenon in Indonesian startups. Psychological Research Journal Indonesia, 11(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1809920
Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2020). Workload, stress, and employee burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(3), 317–325. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000432
Setiawan, A., & Nugroho, A. (2021). Work stress and its implications for job satisfaction among Generation Z in Padang City. Indonesian Journal of Human Resource Management, 10(2), 112–129.
Smith, J., & Lee, H. (2021). The impact of work-life balance on job satisfaction among young professionals. International Journal of Business and Society, 22(1), 85–100.
Smith, P., Brown, K., & Turner, L. (2022). The impact of workload on quiet quitting among Generation Z employees: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Business Management, 37(2), 203–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12345-022-00789-9
Spector, P. E. (2020). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice. John Wiley & Sons, 3(1), 134–141.
Stygar, M., & Huffington, A. (2024). Gen Z and quiet quitting: A rational response to workplace stress. Visier Insights, 14(2).
Tariq, A., Javed, S., & Shahzad, A. (2023). Work-life balance, workload, and employee well-being: Insights from the service industry. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 28(2), 211–223. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000235
Taris, T. W., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2021). The job demands-resources model: A critical review. Emerald Group Publishing, 3(1), 243–268.
Tiwari, A., Cassani, R., Narayanan, S., & Falk, T. H. (2019). A comparative study of stress and anxiety estimation in ecological settings using a smart-shirt and a smart-bracelet. Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS, 2213–2216. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2019.8857890
Tse, K., & Keshri, V. (2023). Redefining work-life balance: Quiet quitting movement among Gen Z. Social Work, 69(3), 313–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000235
Van Hooff, M. L. M., & Geurts, S. A. E. (2021). The role of work-life balance in reducing work stress: A review. Work and Stress, 35(1), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2021.1893727
Yadav, A., & Sharma, M. (2021). The impact of work-life balance on stress in the context of Indian IT professionals. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1672531
Yildirim, D., et al. (2023). Workload, work-life balance, and employee stress: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(6). https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000920
Zhao, Y., & Wu, M. (2023). Work stress, workload, and employee engagement: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Psychology, 108(1), 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001077
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Ramadhi, Eko Fikriando, Donal Ortega, Barkhia Yunas, Relifra, Destia Ayu Lestari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
