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Generation Z, those born after 1996, have now entered the workforce in full force, and they’re not shy about changing how things are done. For older colleagues, the transformation can feel less like progress and more like chaos. From therapy talk to flexible schedules, here are six ways Gen Z are “ruining” the workplace for everyone else.

1. Mental Health Is Part of the Job

For Gen Z, mental health isn’t a perk, it’s a priority. They’ve grown up openly discussing stress, burnout, and therapy, seeing emotional well-being as essential to productivity. This shift has forced managers to become part-time counsellors and HR departments to fund mindfulness apps. While older generations may roll their eyes, research supports Gen Z’s belief: employees who rest, take breaks, and protect personal time perform better long-term. Still, to some veterans, it looks like an excuse to log off early.

2. Flexibility Matters More Than Ever

The rigid 9-to-5 grind feels ancient to a generation raised on remote learning, gig work, and Zoom internships. Gen Z expects autonomy over when and where they work, valuing output over office attendance. Employers who insist on strict hours are often branded “toxic.” For bosses used to monitoring who’s at their desk, this freedom can feel like anarchy, even if productivity doesn’t actually suffer.

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3. Wearing Noise-Cancelling Headphones

In most offices, Gen Z workers think nothing of slipping on noise-cancelling headphones for hours at a time. While they claim it helps them focus, colleagues complain it kills collaboration. “You can’t even ask a quick question without waving your arms,” grumbles one manager. To older workers who thrived on spontaneous chat, the silent, headphone-clad Gen Zer feels more like a robot than a teammate.

4. Dressing Down

Office dress codes have been relaxing for years, but Gen Z has taken “business casual” to new extremes. “You see some jaw-dropping stuff, mini skirts, bare feet, even skimpy tops with no bras,” says Miranda, a mid-career employee. “When I started, I worried if my suit was posh enough. Now I just worry where to look.” Comfort is in; formality, apparently, is dead.

5. Fixating on Wellness and ‘Woke’ Causes

Some workplaces now resemble wellness retreats, complete with meditation corners and debates about social justice. Critics say the focus on self-care and identity politics sometimes overshadows actual work. One HR veteran jokes that “Gen Z turned the office into a lifestyle brand.”

6. Waltzing In Late and Walking Out Early

Perhaps the biggest divide of all lies in attitudes toward time. Gen Z prioritises results over hours. a stark contrast to older colleagues who equate presence with commitment. To traditionalists, the young ones look lazy. To Gen Z, they’re just working smarter.

 

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