An anonymous employee shared their story of pulling off a jet setting stunt without using much paid time off after their company implemented a return-to-office policy. Feeling trapped in a “golden cage,” they opted for “quiet quitting” rather than leaving the company due to its frustrating policies. The employee admitted to only working between one to three hours a day, mainly due to having a lot of free time during their workday managing a database at a San Francisco-based tech company. Despite not working much, they received positive reviews during appraisals and went unnoticed by their colleagues.
The employee admitted to avoiding their job responsibilities during the workday, instead focusing on personal tasks such as chores, going to the grocery store, playing video games, and making personal calls. Over time, these personal tasks evolved into taking small vacations during work days without claiming paid time off. The employee began by using work days to travel to the airport and gradually started taking longer trips, marking their departure and return dates as normal workdays. Despite being on a month-long trip to Italy, they only claimed one week of paid time off.
To avoid suspicion from their employer, the employee would log on in the morning to check emails, participate in online meetings, and engage in the internal messaging platform regularly. They would attend meetings with a fake background to conceal their location and feign engagement by asking good questions and using emojis. The employee also used a mouse jiggler to make it appear as if they were online even when they were not, a tactic that has led to firings at other companies. Despite the possibility of getting caught, the employee feels confident in their ability to get their work done and is considering taking more similar trips in the future.
The employee believes that companies’ lack of care for their employees has led to individuals resorting to “quiet vacationing” as a way to reclaim their time. They express their disdain for the outdated 9-to-5 work schedule and feel empowered by taking control of their time and finding ways to work on their terms. The Gen Z population, in particular, has shown a refusal to conform to traditional work schedules, with some resorting to “quiet quitting” or doing the bare minimum at work as a form of protest. The anonymous employee believes that it is time for employees to hold companies accountable and demand better work-life balance.
The employee’s success in taking extended vacations without impacting their work performance has emboldened them to continue exploring alternative work arrangements. They question the necessity of traditional work schedules and advocate for a more flexible approach to work that allows individuals to work from anywhere and at any time. They feel that regulations around work hours and location are outdated and hinder their ability to be productive. Ultimately, the employee sees a shift in power dynamics between employees and companies, with individuals taking a stand to prioritize their well-being and time over outdated expectations.
