The year 2023 introduced a new workplace vernacular marked by viral phrases and trends born online, reflecting changes in workplaces across the U.S. The trends include “Bare Minimum Mondays,” “coffee badging,” and “rage applying,” among others. Coined by career coaches, HR professionals, and young employees, many of them millennials or Gen Z, these phrases aim to explain the evolving dynamics in the workforce, such as increased burnout and return-to-office mandates.
LinkedIn career expert Andrew McCaskill sees these trends as a shift away from hustle culture, emphasizing better guardrails around mental health and well-being at work for improved balance. The trends can be both helpful and harmful, depending on how they are implemented and used.
While these trends are widely shared on platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn, bosses and companies have been relatively quiet about them online. It remains unclear whether these trends are merely online phenomena or are instigating meaningful changes in workplaces. However, some individuals report that their bosses or companies have embraced these trends, resulting in positive changes in their work environments.
One trend gaining acceptance is “Bare Minimum Mondays,” where employees prioritize essential tasks and create better balance by avoiding excessive workload at the beginning of the week. Some employees share positive experiences of their bosses embracing and encouraging these trends, leading to increased confidence, consistency, and productivity.
Another trend, “quiet quitting,” gained traction in 2022 and refers to employees choosing to “coast” at their jobs instead of resigning. HR leaders are now proactively addressing or preventing quiet quitting by checking in with employees during meetings, conducting stay interviews, and being more supportive. These efforts aim to improve employee well-being, development, and retention.
Overall, the workplace trends reflect a growing emphasis on mental health, work-life balance, and the evolving dynamics of modern work environments. The organizations that prioritize employee well-being are viewed as more likely to thrive in the long run.
