Can Self-Employed Workers Quiet Quit?

I’ve never done anything quietly in my life; in between my allergies, the volume of my voice, and my propensity for heavy shoes, I’m known for making noise. So when I first heard about quiet quitting, I didn’t think it was for me.

The more I looked into it, the more I saw the appeal. And I’m not alone—21% of workers report quiet quitting. Work can often feel like an unending hamster wheel of mundane tasks that lead nowhere. But as a freelancer, I work for myself. So, I’m the boss and the worker—I’d be quiet quitting...to myself. Are the self-employed able to participate in the growing quiet quitting trend? Well, yes and no.

Reasons Freelances Can Quiet Quit

There are some ways in which freelancers can quiet quit. Freelancers still have bosses—we just have more of them. So if one of your bosses is toxic and you’re eager to do the bare minimum, that may be an option. While I would never condone a freelancer lying about their hours, if you’re paid per task, you can put varying amounts of effort into each task. And according to an informal Twitter poll of 304 people, nearly 70% of freelancers say they have quiet quit a freelance job. After all, the more jobs you have, the more changes to quietly bounce.

Furthermore, just because you’re technically an independent contractor doesn’t mean you don’t function as a full-time employee. Anywhere from 10-30% of independent contractors may be misclassified, which means they’re being denied benefits like healthcare and paid sick leave, but doing the work of a full-time employee. In these cases, independent contractors can quiet quit (and arguably, they have a much stronger reason for wanting to). So yes, in many circumstances, quiet quitting is available to the self-employed.

Reasons Freelancers Cannot Quiet Quit

However, while freelancers can quiet quit, they might not be as effective at it. Part of the reason quiet quitting works is that it’s hard to fire full-time employees. It can take anywhere from one to three months, and leaves the employer open to lawsuits. The same is not true of freelancers—it’s very easy to fire a freelancer, and usually involves just sending an email to amend the contract. If you quiet quit one of your contract jobs, be aware that you could get the axe at any moment.

Furthermore, if you run your own business, quiet quitting only hurts you and the people who work for you. In fact, the trend of quiet quitting emerged as workers became discontented with not seeing the benefits of the work they did—but if you own the company, all the benefits are yours. In this case, you’re unlikely to want to quiet quit, but I can’t recommend trying it.

Drawbacks of Quiet Quitting

It might not be such a bad thing that self-employed people can’t easily quiet quit. Many are opposed to it. “Quiet quitting is definitely having a negative impact, and this trend has ascended since COVID,” says Geraldo Rada, Director of Operations at AW Labor Solutions. “Employee disengagement leads to decreased productivity, project delays, and lack of accountability. It also produces a toxic environment between colleagues and supervisors. It is a hidden cost that organizations can't accurately predict or measure and that will ultimately lead to turnover.” You’re not at risk for turnover if you work for yourself—you’re at risk of your business going under.

Furthermore, quiet quitting can harm your professional reputation. As a freelancer, you need to constantly pursue new clients, and you want to make sure your existing clients speak well of your work. So, as a freelancer or self-employed person, think carefully before making the decision to quiet quit.

How To Avoid Needing to Quiet Quit

I’m reticent to say I’m either for or against quiet quitting. I understand that workplaces can be toxic and employees feel powerful, but I also understand that quiet quitting is not the most efficient way of solving these problems.

What I know I’m against is a workplace culture in which workers feel the need to quiet quit. The number one cause of quiet quitting is burn out, so I would encourage all workers—self-employed, freelance, full-time, independent contractors, part-time—to remember to take breaks. Burn-out is common, and getting enough rest and taking vacations is a great way to counteract it. And of course, I’d encourage companies to offer more paid leave for their employees—but this is a column about freelancers. I don’t think CEOs listen to me. Which honestly feels rude.

Ultimately, I don’t think quiet quitting is for me, even if it’s an option for freelancers. I love to make noise, and to be honest, I love the work I do. That said, I believe freelancers and self-employed workers deserve the same benefits as full-time workers, so if you’re a freelancer who has found a way to quiet quit, I salute you.