Journal of Human Resource Management

Journal of Human Resource Management

Meta-synthesis of the Antecedents and Consequences of the Quiet Quitting Phenomenon in Organizations Using the Content Analysis Technique

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohsen Akbari 1
Hani Nikookar-gohari 2
1 Prof., Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economy and Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2 Ph.D., Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economy and Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
10.22034/jhrs.2026.559581.2510
Abstract
Background & Purpose: In recent years, the increasing prevalence of the silent resignation phenomenon in workplaces has led to a severe decrease in the productivity and performance of organizations; therefore, the aim of the current study was to design a model of the antecedents and consequences of the silent resignation phenomenon in order to reduce its negative effects.
Methodology: The current qualitative study was interpretive based on the research paradigm, fundamental based on the research orientation, meta-synthesis library based on the data collection method, and thematic analysis based on research strategy. in the current study, to obtain selected Studies for the implementation of thematic analysis by designing keywords about the phenomenon of quiet quitting, a search was conducted in internet databases between 2023 and 2025, and 425 articles were identified, of which 44 articles were selected and included in the analysis by considering the exclusion criteria.
Findings: Analysis of the selected articles using the thematic analysis technique led to the formation of 257 key themes, 59 unifying themes, and 12 macro themes. The macro themes of personal characteristics, job independency, employee dissatisfaction, workplace conflicts, employee burnout, poor leadership, ineffective human resource policies, poor consideration of human resources, and toxic work environment were the antecedents, and individual and occupational consequences, organizational consequences, and post-organizational consequences were the consequences.
Conclusion: Given the detrimental role of quiet quitting in diminishing productivity within contemporary organizations, its adverse consequences must be prevented by weakening the drivers of this phenomenon. The relatively comprehensive understanding achieved regarding the factors influencing the emergence of quiet quitting and its resulting outcomes can serve as a valuable guide for managing this organizational issue.
Keywords
Quiet quitting
Meta-synthesis
Content analysis
Antecedents
Consequences
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Journal of Human Resource Management
Volume 15, Issue 4
Spring 2025
Pages 84-117

  • Receive Date 14 September 2025
  • Revise Date 24 October 2025
  • Accept Date 04 December 2025