The phenomenon of so-called “quiet quitting” has been all over the news recently. The notion is that employees are rejecting the idea of going above and beyond at work; “saying no to hustle culture,” as The Wall Street Journal put it.

For some, that may simply mean setting reasonable boundaries between work and personal lives. But for others, it can be a deliberate disengagement from work. It’s that second group that we’re going to focus on today, with some advice from Brooke Vuckovic, a clinical professor of leadership, on how managers should address these employees.

“When you don’t deal directly with problematic employees, you’re sending the clear message to others that their work doesn’t matter,” she wrote in a recent piece in Insider.

What Managers Should Do about Quiet Quitters

Vuckovic, who is also an executive coach, says unengaged employees are nothing new. (The amplification that social media provides these quiet quitters is a newer element.)

But however you spin it, quiet quitters can be bad for overall morale, Vuckovic says. In her Insider piece, she offers five effective strategies to combat quiet quitting. Here are a couple:

Don’t be tempted to “quiet fire.” Don’t match your employees’ silence with your own, Vuckovic writes. Instead, initiate tough conversations about how their behavior is impacting the organization. Ask for their perspective and then come to an agreement on how to improve the situation. Yes, it may feel uncomfortable for you, but she says, “managing difficult conversations well is a foundational skill for leaders—the sooner you get better at them the longer you will be a more effective leader.”

Recognize those who are “quietly crushing it.” While our tendency is often to focus on those who are causing problems, don’t overlook those who are doing great, Vuckovic says. Make sure you’re rewarding those who are going above and beyond by knowing what motivates them and what will feel like meaningful recognition to them. “If you fail to attend to the actively engaged, the best performers will start thinking, ‘Why am I putting in the effort?’ That will only make things worse,” she writes in the Insider piece.

What You Need to Know about the New Climate Bill

​​The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate bill in American history, offering a host of measures intended to help the economy transition to lower-emission energy sources. But what exactly is included, and what is left out? And what could it mean for manufacturing, energy, transportation, and other industries?

For answers, join David Besanko, a professor of strategy and expert in the economics of public policy, for a free The Insightful Leader Live webinar. He will walk us through the key provisions and nuances of the historic bill, as well as its implications for the future of the global economy and climate.

The hour-long webinar takes place at noon central time on October 7. Click here to register.