Gen Z, the cohort born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, is the first social generation that grew up with complete access to the internet and has been exposed to technology and digital features from a very early age. This, of course, doesn’t mean that all Gen Zers are digitally literate, but they have nonetheless earned the moniker “digital natives.” There are some downsides as well, and some analysts already consider the group to be the most stressed and depressed generation so far. However, it’s important to remember that there’s also more awareness regarding mental health conditions and disorders nowadays, leading to more correct diagnoses.
The widespread use of electronic devices, especially social media, has raised concerns about attention spans and vocabulary, as well as the challenges it would bring to academic performance. With the older Zoomers currently entering the workforce, some have begun to question their future economic contributions. Data shows that education performance has stagnated while spending has climbed by almost 20% over the past decade. Gen Z has already begun establishing new trends in the workplace, and, for better or for worse, it seems that they are here to stay.
TikTok
TikTok is the most popular social media platform among young people nowadays, the place where all trends spring to life, whether that’s music, fashion or movies. Everyone is familiar with the rise of the “-core’ aesthetics and all they entail, as well as the rapid pace at which they keep changing. However, few know that many Gen Zers also use the platform to get more insights into navigating the workplace. Some are even thinking about starting their own platform and sharing their personal experiences.
You need a creator TikTok account for this, which can be verified, is free to use, allows full access to analytics and is the best option for most content creators. There are many users who share their advice on what it takes to have a fulfilling career and achieve success. Since they belong to different demographics and industries, you can definitely find someone to impart some wisdom to you regardless of the career path you choose to take. But one thing that TikTok does well is that it avoids sugarcoating. You will also hear the hard truths and some of the more uncomfortable aspects of each job.
These insights allow Gen Zers to be better prepared, and many will leave a job if they feel dissatisfied. This had the negative effect of earning them some labels that are not very flattering, including being disengaged, uninterested or even unwilling to put in any effort. Yet, there are also analysts who believe the core of the problem is that each generation has different expectations and standards and that this is all a matter of miscommunication.
Lazy girl job
The Lazy girl job is another TikTok trend that became popular in the past couple of years. It is a continuation of the Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit, a trend that began in early 2021 and saw employees resigning en masse. The main reasons cited by those who chose to leave were wage stagnation in the context of steep living costs, work environments that were stressful or hostile, limited opportunities and benefits, and a longstanding lack of satisfaction with the work. The Lazy girl job appeared as a concept in 2023 and refers to a white-collar job that is relatively easy but offers good pay at the same time.
The main thing is that employees can quiet quit, a job action in which employees do nothing above the bare minimum required by their contract. The “I don’t dream of labor” movement has already been established as an outlier by Gen Z, and those who advocate it believe that work and personal life should be strictly separated. Critics say that these employees might be replaced with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and that Gen Z has already chosen a defeatist attitude and is not equipped to meet the challenges of adulthood.
Nevertheless, the supporters emphasize that the Lazy girl job serves to help employees avoid the dangers of burnout or being exploited for low wages. The idea is also to reframe what a job is and what it should be for the workers. Long working hours are seen as unsustainable, with the potential to cause both physical and mental illness. Moreover, the intricacies of the Lazy girl job can look different for everyone. That’s because everyone has different needs and circumstances. All it boils down to is prioritizing yourself and your well-being.
Flexibility
It goes without saying that flexibility is crucial for Gen Z. They want to feel in control of where and when they work and want to know that they can set their schedule however they prefer. Remote and hybrid work models have become more popular, and not just because of the pandemic. Gen Z employees see it as a pragmatic consideration that allows them to have more autonomy and, therefore, be more productive as well.
Employers that refuse to provide a more flexible work environment will struggle to get Gen Z talent to apply for jobs. It will be even harder to get them to stay in the company. Some surveys show that over 70% of Gen Z employees have either left or considered leaving a job because flexibility wasn’t an option. The trend toward increasing mobility also means that the generation’s perspective on homeownership is different from that of the generations that came before and that they are willing to explore many different paths to achieve financial stability.
All these trends show that personal fulfillment looks different for every generation. Baby boomers and Gen Xers might look at trends such as live-quitting, in which workers record their departures from work and post it online, with absolute horror. Others might simply not understand it. At the same time, Gen Z is also unlikely to see the appeal of many of the views and beliefs of their elders.
Some are also wondering about the trends Gen Alpha will bring, but they will still have to wait a few years. The oldest members are only about twelve years old.
