Why China's Gen Zs And Millennials Are ‘Quiet Quitting’: The ‘Bai Lan’ Movement 

I worked so hard at my first job when I graduated college. I gave it 100%. My boss noticed and praised me and gave me more and more responsibility. I thought, man this is working, I'm gonna be promoted. After 2 years of giving 100%, I got a $50 Starbucks card as appreciation for saving the company I worked for thousands of dollars. I never got the promotion, just more responsibility. I promised to never work hard again after that.

This is happening world wide. Unfortunately the young generation isn't reaping the benefits of hard work pays off. Peoppe worling full time jobs, starting side hustles and can bately make rent let alone afford to buying a house. At some point you do start to question is it worth it all??

I totally get it. I'm a Boomer in the US and I don't want to work hard either. I've worked hard for many years at the expense of both my physical and mental health. I'm now at a point in my life where peace of mind is my priority. I do the bare minimum that is expected of me and I live a simple life. And I'm so much more happier than I ever was running the rat race.

This is a problem in the US. Employers did _everything_ they could to make getting a raise, promotion, or changing jobs as hard as they could, deliberately in my opinion. They slashed HR departments, increased the amount of contract work, etc. Looking for a job is still way too time consuming and expensive. Employers are starting to pay, finally. This is what lead to quiet quitting.

There is no point racing to the top when we don't bear children. Furthermore, working hard is always benefitting the top level more rather than us.

Idk why "quiet quitting" is just now being talked about. I've done it almost my entire adult worklife. So has millions of others every year.

As a young person myself, it's so frustrating that no matter how hard we try, even if we graduate from a top university or enter a high-paying job, it's always not enough. It is more crazy because as some people have excel in life, it gets harder and harder for the majority to improve their living condition, which further worsens the situation. We must recognize the system is corrupt and needs to be changed, but the government is just kowtowing to the demands of the capitalists. Fvck this!

I’m actually very proud and supportive of this movement!! People can’t even find job and when you do you work off your whole time with a salary that can barley pay for your rent and food!! Things must change otherwise no one should work and let it rot !!

It's not about saying no to the government... it's saying no to society and realism of life. It's a worldwide phenomenon especially highly urbanized regions.

Maybe employers should pay workers for their extra effort. Stop expecting workers to always go above and beyond for no extra pay. Workers only have to do what is listed as their duties when they took the job. They don’t have to go above and beyond if they don’t want to. Pay workers better. Pay them extra for extra effort, give pay raises to those who keep going above and beyond. Offer promotions to those workers as well. Stop bitching when a worker only does what they are required to based on their listed duties when hired. People get sick of doing extra work for no extra pay or change of promotions.

whats really depressing is you can have a very descent job but still live paycheck to paycheck. The earning are barely enough to pay mortgages and loans, you cannot enjoy life anymore.

Average workers everywhere are fed up of being exploited while upper management makes millions.

Quiet quitting is the product of giving so much stress to people where they just want out.

They realized that life is about living, not about competition.

I love you all for rebelling against being treated like an npc, we all deserve better. I think being treated better has something to do with actually being engaged with life, your surroundings, people and the natural environment. I’m typing this out lying down in bed as a 22yo who’ll be kicked out of home when I’m 24 but I’m aiming for the best I can imagine. I hope for not just Chinese people but all people who want and deserve better that they get a life that engages and calls forth the best of them. I mean technically nobody is obligated to live so why not make the most of it while we are here?

I hate working hard. I especially hate working to someone else's tune because they want me to work hard. I'm only productive for 5 hours a day. I do work then and after I do whatever I want. Working on rebuilding my business. I tried working hard to build it in my early 20s and failed. I'm working smart now and at my own pace. It's been a lot more organized.

Every generation goes through shifts in values as old values prove to be obsolete. Hard work no longer pays off. It no longer garuntees success

Well, as a hard working person,who was moulded into working hard for others and not himself, I say that this is a good approach. If you care too much and work too hard, there are gonna be ppl who would wanna try to manipulate the hardworkers, to leech off of them. Bare minimum to get by is more than enough when you work for others. But for yourself, work hard.

the CEO of Bombay shaving company made a statement that youth should work 18 hours a day for initial 5 yesrs. This is the mentality of most companies these days. They hire more people, pay less and make them work till they break...then keep hiring more.

I worked hard for a company for 3 and a half years. In my last year I closed around 70 engineering changes, which was like 60% of the rest of my team combined, and yet I was randomly selected to be let go due to corporate restructuring. After that I got into a job that was fun but was consuming me, after six months believing I was going to be promoted and finally be paid better they said “good job, you met expectations for someone who has 6 months working here, in the next 6 months you are expected to do twice than that.” After that I quit and got into a job where I was asked to drive two projects at the same time, i did it succesfully and yet my supervisor asked for even more. No more, no matter how much I get paid (which now is kinda decent) I wont sacrifice myself no more. It is never worth it.

I qualified top of my class with honours and still ended up putting apples in a box for minimum wage. I'll never forget my first job. After a hard season working 12 hour shifts 6 days week for more then 6 months. The manager pulled us aside and made a special point to thank us for our hard work and dedication to the company "thank you very much for helping us smash our target of 1 million cartons". please help yourself to the "complementary" rubbish bin of rotten apples on your way out. We hope to see you again next season....

I'm a millennial, as a child I always dreamt of growing up soon and do so many things in my life, totally unaware about the corruption and connection that I might need to accomplish my dreams. Now, I only dream about having a stable job and getting to live in a clean and peaceful environment.

Back then a household could have one parent working and one stay at home parent, they’ll have enough to live and save and buy a house. Nowadays even both parent working you may or may not be able to afford a house. Things are very different you’ll think twice or thrice to marry even have children. Having a children cost an arm and a leg and more, we don’t want them (our future children) to live uncomfortably in this overpopulated uncertain world where we inherited environment that degrades because the mistake of past generations that not even showing remorse and still doing nothing to remedy. It may sounded i am playing victim but when politican is mostly from their generation our voices is just a shout in a boom(er).

I support this. There are too many idiot managers who ask for the wrong things, miscommunicate, and don't even ask why a task needs to be done in the first place. This will make them think twice

Interesting to see this is happening in many places around the world

This is a unique way of civil disobedience against the rat race created by society. New here, and liked this content.

Wish I had this attitude when I was younger. I worked my butt off and caused myself health problems. Those jobs paid so little and didn't even give any real reward (except some stupid appreciation pins). I struggled to pay the bills. I was used and burnt myself out. Wasted years. Now I have a really good job that I do well in that pays well. I still think all jobs should pay a thriving wage. Things are getting even worse for Gen Z.

I worked hard throughout the pandemic for Home Depot. I got numerous “Homer” awards and Employee of the Month; something even most managers didn’t have. For all my hard work, I got $50 and all my hours removed after they were able to hire replacements after they no longer had to pay people more for working through COVID. That job taught me the hard way that hard work alone doesn’t always pay off, and that is was more worth it to work hard for your own sake than for someone else; especially a company that couldn’t care less about you.

All this talk about “quiet quitting” but no talk about inflation and record profits for corporations who want to pay us the least amount possible for the most amount of work.

In most western countries, when the government, landlord and other expenses take most of your economic output. Why bother working harder when your standard of living just decreases despite working harder and longer?

I work in sales and increased my company’s net earnings by a quarter million $ per year. Instead of being promoted my boss got promoted 😮. He didn’t contribute in any way. I quit the job. He wanted to keep me but I told him too little too late. Now I have better job, earn more, work less 😂

it's the same in India too I have worked for a company and they were making millions during covid we considered the situation and didn't ask for a raise the company said it will revise the salary after the market opens up but they gave only 5% extra when in fact the company is getting more work and making more money than before 🤦

This culture needs to be adopted worldwide, there’s a lot of greed going on in the world right now, prices are unaffordable to even have somewhere to live.

Working as a security guard to get paid to relax at a quiet site is a great way to lie flat

When i worked fulltime, i was the fastest to finish all my works… then after I finished my works, more work were given.. 3 month after, I thought why i even work hard if i only get more works… So i decided to follow my coworkers pace… and got a warning letter because of “ineffectiveness”… Then i just quit and do freelancing… faster work means more money in freelancing world..

I fully support Bai-Lan without reservation. Nowadays, it seems like many jobs try to pay their employees the minimum amount legally required, leading to a significant discrepancy between the amount of work required and the compensation provided. It's concerning to see so many companies expect an attorney's level of dedication from employees earning only $12 an hour.

It's great movement. Reject blind consumerism. It harms nature also. Help society. Present working style leaves no room for others.

we are going to continue to quiet quitting until the employers give us the work life balance.

1:14 Wrong. Ambition and Working for a living are separate matters. Tang Ping has nothing to do with not being able to move up ladder. Most just want to live a normal life, with a family and a roof, not having to worry about being evicted or going hungry. It is increasingly getting hard to achieve that in China, especially among the youth. Why would one want to move to a city, work non-stop just to pay the high cost that comes with it? One is better off living a simple low activity life, while still getting the same net worth as the former. The movement will keep developing as long as housing and medical remains unaffordable to the average citizen in China.

Exactly how I feel even though I'm far away from China. I think it's a worldwide phenomenon more attacked to newer generations rather than continents and cultures. Maybe a sign of more globalization so more resistance from the people. Good job though guys it's a good sign it's resisting so it sends a message. Things need to change for the better.

ive had alot of jobs. im only 36 and ive had prly over 30 40 jobs. i leaned what they're taking about at an early age and just simply wouldn't put up with it. for me at least ive found that driving/delivery jobs have been least stressful for me. im currently at my longest gig ever at 3 years making deliveries. i just listen to podcast all day and take my time.

We are only here for a short time, whether we live multiple incarnations or just the one. Our responsibility is to create that life according to our design and to be in joy as much as possible. I'm a 72 year old flower child from the 50s and the regrets that I have are not based on my earning potential, or lack thereof, but on whether my choices impacted others poorly. Was I able to help when help was needed. The world has been on the brink of disaster since day one. The economy will prevail and rich folks will complain bitterly about how little they have. Our only responsibility is to live our lives in ways that bring us joy, love, peace and tranquility. If that means saying bai lan then shout 'bai lan!' Gather together in communal living arrangements, create beautiful things. Be Love.

I think the main reason this movement can be opposed by officials is in it's naming. "let it rot" suggests to give up, to degrade one's self-worth, rather than finding peace & quiet outside of the hopeless struggles that are encouraged by society. If they said they were seeking work-leisure balance, then they will have the moral highground and any opposition from the officials will automatically clown themselves.

I've heard of people worsening their mental and physical health due to overworking themselves ...it's definitely not worth it. How can you enjoy the wealth if you're not in the right mind nor have the physical ability to do so? Contentment is the key. You came empty-handed. You leave empty-handed. That's the truth of life and death.

I worked 72 hours a week, also 13 hour shifts for Security for 1 year, at first I was buzzing with energy, getting praise but no raise. Towards end of year I was physically sick (bad health) completely lost interest, workmates were like robots, I felt like a Main Character with no purpose, I realize we are not even cogs for companies, we are the grease keeping the cogs moving. It gets very old very quick putting in maximum effort for even diminishing returns (decline in mental/physical health) Bai Lan is my attitude now at 29 I am not going above and beyond without pay meeting the same level. Pay minimum, get minimum work output

There is the Great Resignation.. Still ongoing right now. People in the end have to choose peace, not continual battle.

This phenomenon isn’t new, yet it seems so difficult to recognise. It hasn’t anything to do with ideologies like socialism nor capitalism, nor even democracy. Look to the Japanese society if you want to see how this problem is going to progress. As for America… it is too chaotic an example to even start learning from.

Well, this is what happenes when corporate greed (or socialist wanna be utopias like China) takes over society, and pushes people too hard. Eventually people realize their hard work, the added value they provide and build, just gets pushed up the ladder to the 1%. We are literally left with nothing but crumbs. I mean working hard is all fine and well, but if you haven's got anything to show for at the end of the day, except headaches and worries, then it necessarily becomes depressing and worthless. And you start to feel worthless, wich eventually leads to just giving up. Just look at USA (or the rest of the Western wolrd for that matter) in the 50's and 60's. If you had a middle class education and job, you could likely afford a house, new car, vacations, and you had some free time for the family etc. And where are we now? These "Movements" are nothing but a natural "immune" response to the depravity of the corporate elite.

Our generation has learned that hard work does not pay off. Boomers have broken their end of the social contract by not only living longer than ever, but not passing their wealth amassed in life to the next generation. They benefited and profited off the world and they seem to believe they can take it to the grave. I will not pay for someone else’s retirement anymore. I am a young adult going my own way.

Other than pockets of intrinsically motivated people (who don't need external factors to drive them) , this phenomenon is common across the world now, more so after the recent pandemic. And I can say, in my case, without a pinch of shame or remorse that I am a part of that statistic. And it's not just youth, it's even the earlier generations who have been exhibiting this attitude... especially post pandemic phase...may be it's a universal thing that covid did to us (among other things it did).

it would suck if this trend really only exists among rich kids who can afford to not work, then it just becomes a social status thing

This is the whole world though. Every country is experiencing this.

Leaders worried of bailan among youth? Then why don’t they provide jobs for them? This is ridiculous

It's not about suffering, it's about having no good reason or purpose for it. This is the tale of late millennials and Gen Zs. Speaking as an early member of Gen Z, our generation grew up in a sea of information and a rapidly evolving ecosystem of technology. Most of us are "natives" of many technologies. Many people from this generation saw easier ways to get things done using technology. Being drowned in a sea of information, we also grew up to be skeptical of authority after consuming countless episodes of news and entertainment which portrayed how individuals and organizations with power and authority operate. Many of us have to work in a time where there are housing crises and recessions, and wages aren't keeping up with those. Many industries in the corporate world are sticking to traditional norms of work and work benefits. Given these conditions, it's not surprising to observe many young professionals doing the bare minimum required in work and working on side hustles to make ends meet. After all, a job is just a contract, a business deal, and, at some times, the pay and benefits certainly don't even amount enough to cover the essentials (rent, food, insurance, utility bills etc). Governments and political parties are doing so little to fix broken policies which have created these dire conditions. In a context like this, why should a person choose to suffer so much for so little? I'm not blaming any generation as a whole for this, corrupt politics and failed policies have always been the work of the elites who don't know any better. We all need to change this.

Even if we do good in our job, it still hard for us to get salary increase. Imagine you do all you could for company, have no life outside work, and still can not afford the things (House, good food, high education for your children, etc bcs all too expensive) It's the system that broke us..

This happened to me as a conscript in the military. When I was still in service, I had to deal with toxic office stuff that I really hated. Not really proud to have served at all given how painful it was. I didn't mind the ruck marches, I just didn't like someone talking down to me and treating me like less. What's worse is, you can't really talk back cuz I don't want to get court-martialed either. I don't think it's right to slack off but at the same time, there's no point killing yourself over a job you hate

Considering their 6 day work week in China I’d do the same. 5 days is already tedious as hell on top of paying rent/rego/groceries and basically having not much in savings. Having to allocated whole day to chores there’s pretty much only 1 “resting” day left and that’s not enough these days.

I learned this from an early age, starting with my family where my narcissistic mother preferred my older brother and sister and I was chosen to be the scapegoat, matter what I did I was the bad evil daughter who was her "biggest mistake who wish she aborted". From then I learned that it's not worth it, I'm not worth it and just did the bare minimum that would allow me to pass grades at school.. I graduated college with the same mindset and now at my job I just do the task and go home not hoping or working hard for any promotions because I also live in a corrupt country where you only get the best things if you have connections and money to begin with.

Someone once told me, don't do more than what you need to do because the more you work the more they will expect you to do. It's true, because instead of hiring the extra help, we taught the company that work will get done short staffed. Instead of raises, we got over worked and the company pocketed the profits.

One of the things that hurt the most is that they don't ever want to bet on you, they never offer to fit you for the position, just act like you're happy to be stuck where you are.

Many people question themselves if they've given their absolute all towards their work/careers/jobs. They have tendencies of doubting themselves to the point where a decline in their health status is practically evident. Quiet quitting does more good than harm. If it's saving people from losing bits and pieces od themselves, then so be it.

I feel like this is happening everywhere not just china

I've never related so much to a Chinese person before and I'm just an average Malaysian

They are right. We have created a system where people retire by living off the rent of the next generation. This only works if buying a house for them is unaffordable. A house is now 10-20 times the average annual salary.

This movement needs to be world wide

The competition , constant comparison and the want for only the best people has become so bad that, yeah ,even i want to give up sometimes.

I work at Walmart. My first week, I walked 1.5 hours in 16f weather to get to work. Worked my ass off for months. They kept praising me. Giving me more responsibility, and finally, I hit the point where the amount of tasks they wanted me to do equated to pretty much doing my Team Leads (manager) job. I said, why am I not a team lead at this point? Now, due to issues beyond my control, we are down to 2 people staffing our section which should have 3 people minimum to run, and 4 if you want it to run efficiently. I make a decent wage given where I live, but even with it, it still requires me to have a roommate due to rent costs, and inflation. I'm currently studying Python, in the hopes that I can learn how to code, and potentially triple my salary by getting a different job.

Remember back in the old days when you can make a good living with just a high school diploma?

There's no doubt school/work life or even life in general can be often very depressing/disappointing and you just can't be bothered anymore but also at same time you wouldn't want to reach old/retirement age and regret anything you never did or even try to do back when you were young it will be too late by then.

im literally only 2 weeks+ into my first job (i was freelancing before this) and within less than 2 weeks, i instantly lost 3kg (smth that has never happened before), almost had a panic attack twice (again smth that never happened before), became depressed, and felt very anxious at all times for the first time in my life. i applied for an assistant designer role but they gave me the job desc of a lead designer from the 2nd day of work. and not only that im being paid less for the amount of work that i do, im also only being paid in probation wage for 3 months. im working my ass off all day long, and way past working hours. this is insanity

customer is king, employee is slave

Life is a competition and it begins when you are born trying to get higher education good paying jobs and moving up in social status the world became to materialistic and to expensive to just survive

这个问题本质是分配问题，努力也不会得到更多好处，为什么要努力？ 代际间的贫富差距，已经大到了努力也无法改变的地步，各行各业的利益链条也已经稳固了，年轻人尝试了一圈，发现找不到上升的机会，还不如躺平舒服。现在躺着也饿不死。

I'm 31 and I don't have anything, my hard work not appreciated

I've been jobless for 2 years since covid. I can be considered as Bai lan aswell. Preparing to live a free live in the jungle. Why should I work to make someone else Rich. Jungle has water , food , built my own free shelter.

Expensive home ownership makes me hopeless too. COVID will pass, but paying mortgage for 20+ years is really depressing. I can imagine more unhappiness when, after all that, you don’t even own the home in China.

A shrinking work force means more companies will have to pay higher wages and more benefits to attract any workers they can; something they don’t want since it means less money for them.

Hard work may reap benefits, but corporate cronies are hoarding them to themselves. That is the crux of it.

This issue is happening around the world not just in China alone.

"The more you work, the more you'll work ." ~master Oogway

I think this concept also relates well to those who are discriminated in society due to race, gender or others...Those who are discriminated could easily fall into this new culture

I worked extremely hard and pur 110% into a career that was supposed to be worth it since you can move up to differenr positions and pay, but after 5yrs of hard work and effort nothing I was only a few dollars higher vs when I started, at that rate of slow increase, I'd be an old man by the time I'm actually making the money in worth as an employee.

I am support this movement. Used to be against it until it happened to me. Being working so hard for the best ending up with being unappreciated and those credits goes to the unworthy staff who use cables, 10 tons hydraulic jack and bigger fan to the boss inside government service. After longest exhausted and failure in relationship because of this, why did I even want to try and let the one who took all the credits do the work. Well, it's not bad after all seeing them start to suffered from their own credits that they took from us. Let it rot.

Ive watched boomers do this.... I asked the older crowd I worked with why and they said everything people are saying in the comments "why work hard when nobody appreciates your work." I took notes... Now I own my own business. I work my mundane job in the day and run my business in the evening. One day I won't have to work for anyone and I can just work hard for myself where I can be appreciated. Because I value me!

Same thing here in Canada. But worst. It’s the old generations are the one who started it. Got to a low easy pay decent job position and stayed there until retirement. Some don’t even retired.

I'm generation x 44 years old and I question why the f*** am I going above and beyond my job requirements and not getting paid for the extra that I do.Fuckem !Why?💯 And I'm not lazy and my way of thinking isn't being lazy it's honest truth

As a millenial, i also feel like this. I think this is a worldwide event

i'm not gen z but i feel the pain of this generation. properties are sky high, salaries are low. even though i'm older i also have a hard time obtaining my own property. real estate keeps getting more expensive even every few months where i live. i fear not having money for rent one day getting old so i want my own place but it is out of reach

Maybe this world is not supposed to move as fast as it moves nowadays

As a mgtow this gets my stamp of approval

When enough people have enough money, the desire and ambition to have it all isn't necessary. Work to live, not live to work, it's a big world - don't spend it all inside a factory.

And this is why I've always built my own businesses alongside any job I ever had. All my surplus capital went into building infrastructure and investment vehicles. A job will never give you freedom by its very nature. Don't quiet quit, quiet build. Instead of being lazy, work in ways that benefit you!! Don't sit at work doing nothing, sit there learning something or building something! Laziness is a one way ticket to a mediocre existence as is working hard for someone else.

We didnt realize after all years we People help them to build crowd control systems... I hope bring back peaceful traditional living is possible

I'm personally not interested in "climbing the ladder" because everyone I meet--whether it's adults who have worked their whole lives or unemployed college graduates--is miserable.

I used to be like this, unfortunately untiI one day when I got tired of it and woke up, tbh I understand that mindset so I'm not going to point any fingers. However I went back to old school hard work, but this time with a balance to it, also Persuing skills and my passions. So far so good 👍

Man. As a manager from older generation, this trend is real. Super painful.

This is a worldwide sign of people being burned out.

Worked hard in my studies, graduated and finally got a company to get abroad but then sudden sadness shocked me is it because of pressure, responsibilities or a midlife crisis finding a purpose?

Working hard means getting shafted with more work and responsibilities with no extra pay. Not worth it, I fully believe In doing the bare minimum.

Every generation has their own challenges. Don't give up life. Be positive and find meaning in living. It's only for a short life span. .