Silent disengagement: A case study on 'quiet quitting' among professors in Metro Manila's private higher education institutions amidst emote/hybrid work

• Main Authors: Hong, Albert G., Cortez, Manuel Christopher M., Lorenzo, Daniella Charliz, Ranieses, Jessica Jaye S.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: College teachers—Philippines—Metro Manila—Psychology; College teachers—Job satisfaction—Philippines—Metro Manila; Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11615
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study investigates the phenomenon of ‘quiet quitting’ among professors in private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Metro Manila. Quiet quitting is a subtle form of disengagement, often in response to dissatisfaction with their employer. Leveraging the basic psychological need theory (BPNT), this research explores the causes, factors, and potential solutions to this issue. This study aimed to explore the occurrence of quiet quitting among university professors during the transition to online education amid the pandemic. The researchers conducted a cross-case analysis of eight respondents, identifying three basic psychological needs – competence, autonomy, and relatedness – as instrumental in preventing or precipitating quiet quitting. The findings demonstrate that institutions able to fulfill these needs were successful in curbing quiet quitting. The study also found that while literature largely frames quiet quitting as a work-oriented phenomenon beneficial to employees, professors saw it as detrimental to their self-realization and sense of purpose. The study contradicts the prevailing perspective that quiet quitting is solely driven by work-life balance, instead emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivators such as purpose, responsibility, and commitment to students, in addition to extrinsic motivators like salary. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutions to focus on employee well-being, workload management, and provision of support programmes to address quiet quitting. It also suggests the potential use of the self-determination theory for future research on quiet quitting. This study expands the understanding of quiet quitting in academia, offering actionable insights for institutional strategy and policy development.