Why India’s Gen Z Workers Are Quietly Quitting Jobs Without Formal Resignations

In India, a noticeable trend has emerged among Gen Z workers: leaving jobs without submitting formal resignation letters, a practice now known as quiet quitting or ghosting employers. Rather than going through traditional notice periods and handovers, many young professionals are choosing to simply stop showing up — driven by dissatisfaction, burnout, and shifting expectations around work and career fulfillment.

Young employees across sectors — from tech startups to corporate offices — are quietly exiting roles without formal notice, abandoning professional norms and leaving employers scrambling to fill gaps.

What “Quietly Quitting” Means in This Context

Traditionally, quitting a job in India involves a formal resignation letter, a notice period, and often an exit handover. But for a growing number of Gen Z workers:

They stop attending work

They cease responding to employer communication

They do not provide official resignation documents

This abrupt exit disrupts workflow, hampers team morale, and places additional load on colleagues who must pick up unfinished tasks.

Why It’s Happening: Key Drivers

1. Disillusionment With Work Culture

Many Gen Z professionals feel constrained by traditional corporate expectations. They value work–life balance, flexibility, purpose, and a supportive work environment. When these needs aren’t met, some choose to exit abruptly rather than tolerate long hours, rigid hierarchies, or lack of growth opportunities.

2. Burnout and Mental Health

Burnout has become widespread among younger workers. Long commutes, excessive workloads, and unclear expectations contribute to stress that pushes some to step away suddenly rather than endure a formal notice period.

3. Rise of Freelance and Gig Options

Gen Z increasingly prefers freelancing and gig work, which allow autonomy and income diversification. This shift makes formal corporate roles feel restrictive, especially when better opportunities arise elsewhere.

Employer Impact and Response

This trend poses challenges for employers:

Disrupted workflows and project delays

Immediate need for replacements

Loss of institutional knowledge

Lower team morale and trust

Some businesses are responding by:

Reinforcing notice period policies

Offering engagement and retention incentives

Improving workplace culture and flexibility

Introducing well-being programs

Recognizing underlying reasons behind Gen Z’s behavior can help organizations adjust and retain talent by reshaping their environments.