2023 was a big year for workplace trends taking centre stage on TikTok. With new phrases and terminology filling up our social media feeds, flexible office space provider Instant Offices has delved into TikTok revealing some unprecedented insights into today’s workforce based on the trends they are most interested in.
The top 10 most popular TikTok workplace trends from 2023
| Ranking | Trend | Views |
| 1 | Act Your Wage | 655.7M |
| 2 | Lazy Girl Job | 38.5M |
| 3 | Quiet Firing | 26.4M |
| 4 | Quiet Hiring | 8.7M |
| 5 | Rage Applying | 6.1M |
| 6 | Bare Minimum Mondays | 2.6M |
| 7 | Quiet Quitting | 1M |
| 8 | Career Cushioning | 672.7K |
| 9 | Boomerang Employee | 101.9K |
| 10 | Resenteeism | 32.9k |
Understanding Employee Discontent: ‘Act Your Wage’ Goes Viral
With over 665 million views, the phrase ‘Act Your Wage’ on TikTok is a clear reflection of employee dissatisfaction with overbearing co-workers and employers that undervalue them.
The most prevalent workplace phrase is a call out to co-workers who colleagues who treat their peers like overbearing managers and a mantra for employees that feel their businesses don’t pay them enough for the level of service they provide. At its core, the “Act Your Wage” trend suggests employees want clearer, defined boundaries in the workplace as well as recognition and reward for the hard work they put in.
Job Security Jitters: ‘Quiet Firing’ Views Reflect Employee Concerns
Job security concerns take centre stage on TikTok, with ‘Quiet Firing’ accumulating a substantial 26.4 million views. Quiet firing is a subtle and often insidious practice in the world of work, where rather than directly firing an employee, an employer gradually takes away their responsibilities until they are forced to leave. The workforce’s focus on this trend suggests a lack of trust in employers that businesses will need to remedy to ensure employee retention in the New Year.
A Disengaged Workforce: Quitting and Withdrawal Trends
Interest in trends around quitting and/or disengaging from work have risen significantly – including Lazy Girl Job (38.5M), Rage Applying (6.1M), Bare Minimum Mondays (2.6M), Quiet Quitting (1M) – reaching nearly 50M views. This trend signals a downward turn in employee attitudes, emphasizing the need for businesses to reassess their employee satisfaction strategies and create environments that inspire motivation and commitment to avoid the next great resignation.
Sources and Methodology: Data on the top 10 TikTok Trends was collated by creating a seed list of popular terms and ranking these based on TikTok views, found by searching each trend within the TikTok app.
About Instant Offices: Instant Offices is a global leader in flexible office space solutions, offering businesses a diverse range of workspace options. With a commitment to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of the workforce, Instant Offices empowers businesses to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the modern workplace.