There’s no denying that Generation Z have entered the workplace and changed it.
They’ve turned up in their low-rise baggy jeans with their tiny handbags and firm understanding of boundaries and revolutionised the way we all work.
Naturally, it has been an adjustment for everyone. Boomers are confused, and it is making Millennials feel old.
Gen Z spans from 1997 to 2012, which means the oldest of that generation are 26. So what makes them so different to former generations?
Corporate results coach Sue Giacobbe said: “Generation Z can multi-task, and they have more confidence to talk to employers, their language is more casual, they are more open about their personal lives and more transparent about their salaries, prepared to offer feedback to their bosses and will share if they think they should be paid more.”
Ms Giacobbe has also noticed that they are quick to embrace new technology and comfortable in setting workplace boundaries.
“They love to separate work from play and have a better balance than previous generations,” she said.
The divide was never clearer than when I was chatting to my lovely 25-year-old co-worker Nazeem.
We were making plans to shoot some video content and his responses had me – as Gen Z would say – shook.
He was calling people “peeps”, corrected alright to “aight”, insisted on shortening the four letter word “easy” to “ez” and then told me he’d “clap see you soon!”
Excuse me what?!
Days later I am still confused.
To older generations, there are some Gen Z office habits that may be seen as “unprofessional”, “rude” or even downright “feral”, but recruitment expert Roxanne Calder says it is important for workplace norms to be challenged.
“Gen X and the Baby Boomers are more traditional, conservative and rule-following. Gen Z challenges the status quo and way of thinking, which is much needed in a world so fast and ever-changing,” she said.
“A standard workplace approach or myopic view doesn’t cut it in a post-pandemic world.”
Gen Z are changing the way we work and I’ve created a list of their most controversial workplace behaviours.
No hate. The changes they have made are as refreshing as Logan Paul’s energy drink PRIME.
1. Gen Z will use phrases you have never heard of
The youngest generation has arrived at our workplaces armed with phrases like “clap ya later” (see you later) and “catch these hands” (which is when someone says something you don’t like or makes you mad).
Whatever happened to “cutting off your nose to spite your face” and “every dog has its day.” The generational divide is genuine.
Generation Z doesn’t understand the chokehold Nikki Webster had on Millennials, and Millennials don’t know why they are insisting on wearing unflattering jeans.
A TikTok went viral earlier this year where an employee shared the email sign-offs of her young staff.
My favourites include: “Another day, another slay” and “stay hydrated, Queens.”
Traditional email signatures are now seen as old and boring. Try adding in a zany email sign-off to join the cool kids.
Seriously the other day a younger worker replied to my work related compliment with “Yeah Boi!”
I felt like Ita Buttrose when she had to pretend to relate to Jessica Rowe on Studio 10.
2. Gen Z do things they enjoy in work time
This generation doesn’t operate in the same way other generations did.
No hiding their phones under their desks to text a Tinder date. They aren’t using their toilet breaks to catch up with their Instagram messages.
Instead they are open about adding play to their work time and they don’t hide their phones when they want to check them.
It isn’t uncommon to see a young person in the office watching a movie or YouTube clip while working toward a big deadline.
They are forcing workplaces to realise that multi-tasking is king and that having a bit of fun at work won’t impact your performance.
So if you are sitting at your desk just plainly working, it might be time to consider an anti-ageing skincare routine.
3. Gen Z will leave on time
Toxic girl-boss culture is dead and done and now it is all about the younger generation reminding everyone that they should leave on time.
You won’t catch the youngest working generation staying back late to impress the boss. Instead, they’ll make it clear they are punching out when they need to and making no excuses about why.
There’s also a high chance they’ll be doing this while wearing clothes that aren’t high waisted. Maybe if you are older you might judge the youngsters for this move but at the end of the day you are the loser stuck at your desk while they are out having fun.
So they win this round!
4. Gen Z will give their boss feedback
Remember when it was normal only to see your boss when they hired or fired you? And you’d spend your working life assuming that if they didn’t know who you are that was a good thing.
Generation Z has taken a more direct approach. Instead, they aren’t scared of their bosses and are very comfortable giving feedback.
The youngest generation are as confident as your mum is when she’s at a cafe and asking if they have more comfortable seats.
5. Gen Z will not dress corporate
Forget blazers, suits and heels. It is now all about baggy pants, crop tops and sneakers.
The younger generation dress for work how most of us dress to go and get milk at Coles at 9pm. Basically they are dressing like Shannon Noll in the early 2000s.
Slacks are out! Actually, just saying the word ‘slacks’ outs you as someone from an older generation.
6. Gen Z will talk about how much they earn
Keeping your salary secret is for the old.
Generation Z will happily tell you how much they are earning and why they should be earning more.
They don’t believe that talking about money is taboo and they’ll get real with you about what they are bringing in.
7. Gen Z will tell you about their personal life
Remember when office small talk used to be formal? Well, that is gone. Generation Z have made it very normal to talk about their personal lives at work and it is rubbing off on the rest of us.
It has become an office norm for people to try and dissect their co-worker’s Tinder messages.
“Is it too much if I reply and say I wish I was that fish he is holding?”
That is office chat now.