Girlbosses are becoming snail girls—and this HR exec approves

The girlies have spoken, and they no longer want to do it all.

Some women are ditching the corporate grind and endless workdays to prioritize personal happiness and work-life boundaries. The movement, dubbed the “snail girl era,” took off on TikTok, where videos show women shedding their #girlboss personas and embracing R&R.

Employees participating in the “snail girl era” aren’t putting in less effort at work, Hannah Yardley, chief people and culture officer at software company Achievers, told us. They’re just prioritizing themselves over their work—and it’s making them more productive at work, and leading to a better sense of connection in the workplace.

“What it’s driving is really, really good for our employees and really, really good for organizations,” she said.

Yardley told HR Brew that the era’s main takeaway for HR leaders is that they should evaluate employees not for time spent working, but for outcomes achieved.

“Rather than looking at a set number of hours…as long as objectives are set between an employee and a leader, and they’re well-understood and designed, if someone chooses to place more significant emphasis on mental health or well-being, it absolutely has a place,” she said.

HR pros should also encourage employees to spend their time as they see fit, “as long as [they’re] driving outcomes, and that’s aligned with what the organization needs,” she added.

I’m going to enter my “snail girl era” today by perusing the aisles of Trader Joe’s a little longer during my lunch break.