Mushroom management style as a predictor of teachers’ quiet quitting behavior

Abstract Background The mushroom management style refers to a management approach where employees’ access to information is restricted and they are not included in decision-making processes. Quiet quitting, conversely, it refers to employees only performing their mandatory duties without resigning, avoiding putting extra effort into their work. This study aims to investigate the extent to which mushroom management style predicts quiet quitting behavior among public school teachers from the perspective of Social Exchange Theory and Psychological Contract Theory. Methods This quantitative study is designed using a correlational survey model. The study group consists of 460 teachers selected using simple random sampling across seven geographical regions of Türkiye. Data were gathered through the “Mushroom Management Scale” and the “Teachers’ Quiet Quitting Scale,” and correlation and regression techniques were used in the analyses. Results The results indicate that teachers’ perceptions of mushroom management style were generally low, while their perceptions were moderate in terms of information sharing and communication. Quiet quitting behaviors were generally very low, but were also found to be at a low level in terms of depersonalization. Conclusions The findings indicated a moderate, positive, and statistically significant relationship between mushroom management style and quiet quitting behavior. In addition, mushroom management emerged as a significant predictor of quiet quitting behavior. In light of these results, several implications for practice and directions for future research are proposed.