Some have applauded quiet quitting as a correction to the culture that puts work first above all else. Others view quiet quitting as a workplace trend that could stymie employees’ chances for advancement and more fulfilling work. What is quiet quitting? According to Zaid Khan, “You’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond at work.”

There is no way to track the number of people quietly quitting their jobs. However, there is some evidence to suggest that job satisfaction is low. A recent Gallup poll found that nearly half of all U.S. workers experienced daily stress and burnout at work.

Some believe quiet quitting is a healthy correction. When workers set manageable expectations for themselves, organizations benefit from increased engagement and decreased turnover. However, some contend that quiet quitters may be losing chances for promotion by not performing stand-out work.

Allison Schrager of Bloomberg Opinion writes, “All jobs are meaningful. If someone pays you to do something, it has value. And if a desire for a job with a big mission that will give your life meaning prevents you from working hard or staying in a job long enough to develop skills, you will not only earn less money, you will never find what you are looking for.”

Is quiet quitting the only way to address job dissatisfaction? No, and as it turns out, there is a lot to gain by being proactive about your job concerns. Here are some things you can do instead of quiet quitting.

Conduct your own “desk audit.”

Write down everything you do and why you do it. This will help you decide if a task you’re doing now really needs to be done. Thomas K. Kelemen, of Deseret News says, “Research shows that going beyond the call of duty at work can lead to family conflict, stress and fatigue related to nonrequired tasks.” If what you’re doing doesn’t need to be done, discuss this with your boss and come up with some suggestions for things you can do instead that would contribute to the mission and provide you with more fulfilling work.

Ask for a temporary transfer or reassignment.

Your public sector agency may provide you with the opportunity to “underfill” (do the work of a higher classified position) or “overfill” (do the work of a lower classified position) while a job is vacant. This is a good opportunity to gain new skills and experience, as well as perspective on your current work.

Offer to help your boss with some aspect of their work.

Written into most government job descriptions is the phrase “other duties as assigned.” This acknowledges the evolving and fluid nature of public service jobs and that some responsibilities will be assigned that were not spelled out in the job description. When you ask to take on your boss’s “other duties” you are learning by taking on emerging work. Your boss’s other duties could offer interesting projects and could be the springboard to your own job reclassification or promotion.

Participate in an interdepartmental committee.

Many public agencies form interdepartmental committees to break down work silos, improve communications, and address public needs involving more than one department (e.g. disaster response, homelessness, public works and traffic, etc.). The next time the opportunity arises to participate on an interdepartmental committee, volunteer for it. You will learn more about how other departments accomplish their work and reflect on how your own department uses strategies and tactics to accomplish its mission.

Public Service is a respected trust. When we become public servants, we make a commitment to serve the people who pay our salaries. Fulfilling this commitment is noble. Fortunately, there are many other ways than quiet quitting to establish work/life balance and find job satisfaction in local government.