[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Eleanor-scaled.jpg” custom_margin=”||91px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”A woman wearing glasses and a white shirt sits at a desk, resting her chin on her hand and looking thoughtful or bored\u2014perhaps pondering government hiring prospects. Shelves with books and a lamp are visible in the background.” title_text=”A woman wearing glasses and a white shirt sits at a desk, resting her chin on her hand and looking thoughtful or bored\u2014perhaps pondering government hiring prospects. Shelves with books and a lamp are visible in the background.” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”223px|0px|118px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_margin=”45px||24px|-69px” custom_padding=”0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Why Government Employees Disengage and What to Do About It<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-88px|||||” custom_padding=”3px|0px|24.6719px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Eleanor-Hecks-business-writer-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Eleanor Hecks business writer (1)” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ custom_margin=”||5px|||” animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]ELEANOR HECKS<\/a><\/strong><\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]Eleanor Hecks is a senior HR and business writer at Designerly Magazine. After growing up with parents who both worked in the public sector, Eleanor is passionate about specifically applying her insights to those in the government and education professions. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow Designerly on X for business and design insights.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”||14px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Private sector employees aren\u2019t the only ones who are quiet quitting. As government-wide buyouts, firings and policy changes alter the labor landscape, more civil servants are disengaging from their roles entirely. Several things can be done about it.<\/p>\n Quiet quitting is well within civil servants\u2019 rights, as they are not at-will employees. However, doing the bare minimum of work could have considerable societal and career consequences.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, quiet quitting does not entail pretending to work. Some 25% people define the term<\/a> as resigning without telling anyone. Another 19% believe it means to decline additional work without financial compensation. However, most believe it entails doing the bare minimum of work to avoid getting fired.<\/p>\n It is generally accepted that quiet quitters do the jobs they were hired for, and nothing more. They opt out of optional tasks, avoid volunteering their time and become less psychologically invested in their day-to-day duties.<\/p>\n An employee quiet quits when they refuse to go above and beyond for duties not explicitly outlined in their contracts. They may start turning down projects, taking longer to respond to emails, clocking out right at 5 p.m. or barely meeting quotas. Depending on their typical workload, this change may be immediately noticeable.<\/p>\n Everyone has off days. Coming to work sick or sad shows resolve, even if it appears like apathy. How do you separate temporary periods of poor performance from quiet quitting? The trick is to look at the triad \u2014 their performance, professional relationships and presentation. If all three undergo a sudden, dramatic change for the worse, they may be quiet quitting.<\/p>\n Generally, employees quiet quit to set boundaries, thereby alleviating burnout and improving their work-life balance. However, they may also stop going above and beyond to communicate dissatisfaction with management.<\/p>\n This problem isn\u2019t exclusive to the public sector. Gallup estimates that quiet quitters account for 50% or more<\/a> of the United States workforce. Its findings show just 32% of workers are engaged, with 18% actively disengaged. The ratio is the lowest in almost a decade. However, the rate is atypically high among civil servants.<\/p>\n Being a federal employee used to mean job security, solid benefits and a pension plan while proudly serving the American public. However, illegal firings, buyout offers, return-to-work mandates and heightened scrutiny created an environment of uncertainty.<\/p>\n Data gathered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows government-wide staffing levels are at a decade low. The federal government saw a net loss of 220,000 workers<\/a> from January 2025 to January 2026. Without accounting for the spots new hires filled, it lost 300,000 employees in 2025. Virtually all executive branch agencies have been affected.<\/p>\n Quiet quitting isn\u2019t a personal failing. Staff members still show up to work on time and do the jobs they were hired for. Think of it this way \u2014 if you have to hire multiple people to compensate for one quiet quitter, that individual was doing the jobs of multiple people. By taking on tasks beyond their job\u2019s scope, they risked burnout to keep their department running smoothly.<\/p>\n When used to establish a work-life balance, quiet quitting can benefit staff. However, the decision to do the bare minimum can adversely affect their employer and their agency\u2019s mission. Statistics show that disengaged workers cause thousands of dollars in productivity losses<\/a> annually. At scale, they cost the global economy an estimated $8.8 trillion each year.<\/p>\n Say a manager quiet quits. They still respond to emails and draft documents, but show up later than usual. Once others realize this, they start arriving minutes before the boss rather than at their usual start times. Due to one person\u2019s apathy, an entire department slowly disengages.<\/p>\n Civil servants understand their work\u2019s importance and respect their colleagues, so they regularly perform duties outside their job descriptions. However, if they feel undervalued, micromanaged or stressed, they tend to pull back. With virtually all federal agencies being affected by firings and buyouts, you can\u2019t compensate by hiring more people. You must combat quiet quitting.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ min_height=”721px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2-3-scaled.jpg” alt=”A finger points at three white dice on a table, displaying the words %22QUIET QUITTING%22 and %22CUTTING,%22 reflecting recent trends in government hiring, with the middle die showing %22CU%22 and %22QUI.” title_text=”A finger points at three white dice on a table, displaying the words %22QUIET QUITTING%22 and %22CUTTING,%22 reflecting recent trends in government hiring, with the middle die showing %22CU%22 and %22QUI.” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”-39px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/3-7.19.35-PM-scaled.jpg” alt=”A confident man in a suit stands in the foreground of a modern office, holding glasses. In the background, two people shake hands at a table\u2014an ideal scene for government hiring discussions\u2014while another person observes the meeting.” title_text=”Unemployed,,Quiet,Job,,Desperate,Asian,Young,Businesswoman,Resigning,From,Company” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”-40px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”0.7%|10%||10%||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, quiet quitting does not entail pretending to work.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#888888″ text_font_size=”12″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]ELEANOR HECKS[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”9px||0px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”-142px||0px|||” custom_margin_phone=”-75px||0px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n With civil servants quiet quitting at an exceptionally high rate, it is up to employers to address the root causes of disengagement.<\/p>\n Tedious, low-impact tasks \u2014 like submitting a bulleted list of each week\u2019s accomplishments, as the OPM temporarily required \u2014 contribute to burnout and low morale. One of the most effective ways to lighten workers\u2019 workloads today is with the help of artificial intelligence. Automation frees them up for high-impact work that they find more engaging.<\/p>\n However, keep in mind that simply deploying an automation tool without a clear strategy is often worse than doing nothing at all \u2014 technology that is poorly rolled out can create more confusion and frustration that leads to even poorer engagement. Unfortunately, this form of \u201cinnovation\u201d \u2014 asking employees to use these tools without proper training or a clear understanding of what you\u2019re trying to help them accomplish \u2014 is all too common as AI adoption soars. For instance, one survey found that while around 50% of senior leaders had deployed<\/a> AI or planned to do so soon, fewer than 25% had target KPIs surrounding its use.<\/p>\n To be effective, technology must be implemented with a clear plan, dedicated resources, and employee input to ensure it genuinely reduces their burden rather than adding to it. Develop a strategic plan to ensure success.<\/p>\n For many, working conditions have become untenable. The American Psychological Association attributes the stress to sudden mass layoffs<\/a>, massive funding cuts and conflicting management directives. One New York-based clinical psychologist counseling federal employees recommends making space for them to express emotions without repercussions.<\/p>\n If a project has a big impact, commend the contributors. When workers pull all-nighters to meet a strict deadline, reward them. If employees consistently go above and beyond, promote them. Once workers see that dedication and hard work are rewarded, they will be more inclined to engage.<\/p>\nThe Truth About Quiet Quitting in Civil Service<\/h4>\n
What Is Quiet Quitting?<\/h4>\n
Signs of Quiet Quitting<\/h4>\n
Why Do Government Employees Disengage?<\/h4>\n
Why Should Agencies Combat Quiet Quitting?<\/h4>\n
Proactive Strategies to Prevent Quiet Quitting<\/h4>\n
Use Automation Thoughtfully to Lighten Workers\u2019 Workloads<\/h4>\n
Establish Support Networks<\/h4>\n
Reward and Promote Workers<\/h4>\n
Allow Flexible Work Arrangements<\/h4>\n