Forget quiet quitting, Gen Z is using “loud leaving” to redefine work boundaries

Remember when “quiet quitting” was all anyone could talk about? That TikTok-approved, sneaky-rebellion move of doing just enough at work—no late-night emails, no extra unpaid labour, just sticking to your job description—felt like a secret superpower. It was the ultimate way to say, “I see your hustle culture, and I raise you boundaries.” Everyone from your coworker sharing memes in the break room to your cousin posting career advice on LinkedIn was whispering about it like it was a scandal.

But, as with every trend that goes viral, quiet quitting has evolved. The whispers have turned into a megaphone, and the subtle act of holding back has transformed into something bold, audacious, and impossible to ignore. Enter: Loud leaving—Gen Z’s unapologetic, in-your-face way of clocking out, reclaiming their time, and making sure everyone knows they’re doing it on their own terms.

It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s Gen Z’s bold, unapologetic way of clocking out—physically, mentally, and sometimes literally with a social media sign-off. No more sneaking out of the office like you’re breaking curfew. This is logging off with your Slack status proudly set to “offline,” snapping your laptop shut with satisfaction, and declaring, “I’m done for the day, see you tomorrow!”

While quiet quitting was passive and all about: “I’m protecting my boundaries,” loud leaving hollers, “I have boundaries, and I’m not afraid to enforce them.”

Gen Z, raised in a culture of hyper-visibility and constant self-expression, isn’t about to disappear into the background—they’d rather own their exit. After years of hustle culture, burnout, and economic uncertainty, they’re embracing balance, making mental health a visible priority. Loud leaving says loud and clear: I refuse to make overwork look normal.

What loud leaving looks like

Loud leaving can look a lot of different ways, but it always comes with confidence. It’s packing up at 5 pm sharp while coworkers pretend to “still be busy,” leaving your manager on read after hours without a guilty follow-up, or posting a playful “logging off, don’t email me” TikTok during your commute. Some even take it up a notch, swapping their out-of-office message for something funny or scheduling a Slack bot to proudly declare, “Work day = OVER.”

For remote workers, loud leaving can mean calendar-blocking “personal time,” turning cameras off after hours, or saying in meetings, “I’ll handle this tomorrow.” Confident, but not careless.

The Gen Z philosophy

For older generations, work was about loyalty and going the extra mile. For Gen Z, it’s about survival and carving out joy outside the office. They’re not anti-work, just anti-being-consumed-by-work. Now, before you shut it down, loud leaving isn’t about being lazy. It’s a refusal to pretend productivity never ends.

Many argue that loud leaving improves workplace culture. Normalising leaving on time gives everyone permission to do the same. Imagine catching that 6 pm. yoga class or eating dinner before 9 without guilt. That’s the Gen Z dream.

Of course, not everyone’s thrilled. Some managers see loud leaving as unprofessional, worrying that it signals disengagement. The irony? Research shows employees who set boundaries are often more productive during actual work hours. Evidently, Gen Z isn’t the problem. It’s the outdated idea that late nights equal dedication.

How to try it yourself

If you'd like to give this method a try, start by announcing your exit with confidence. Something simple like, “That’s all from me today!” Next, set clear digital boundaries by logging out of work apps or muting notifications. Keep it lighthearted too: a witty status or playful out-of-office message gets the point across without sounding harsh. And finally, stay consistent. The more you practice loud leaving, the more it becomes a normal, accepted part of your work culture.

Quiet quitting walked so loud leaving could prance. It’s not about drama; it’s about being deliberate. Gen Z is rewriting professionalism, proving that leaving work on time isn’t scandalous, it’s self-respect. And honestly? It’s about time we all got loud about that.

Lead image: Prime Video 

Also read: Here’s how Gen Z really feels about the 10-hour workday policy

Also read: The real reason why Gen Z may be ageing faster than millennials