While work can be hard ... well, work ... for employees of all ages, no group is currently feeling
the pressure more intensely than Generation Z. Generally acknowledged as consisting of those born
between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, this group is struggling more than any other with
workplace-related stress and anxiety, according to numerous studies.
For example, a survey of almost 12,000 workers around the world, conducted by the multinational
health insurance company Cigna, found that 91% of respondents aged 18-24 reported feeling stressed,
compared with an average of 84% across all age groups. Even more disconcerting are the findings that
almost a quarter of the Generation Z respondents feel they are suffering from stress considered to
be unmanageable, and that nearly all of them are experiencing work burnout symptoms.
What, then, are the reasons for these workplace woes? Well, one thing that certainly doesn't help is
the fact that many Generation Z feel the work they do doesn't provide them with the financial means
to lead a fulfilling life. With salaries around the world generally failing to keep up with the
rampant inflation--particularly for those on the bottom rung of the career ladder--a lot of young
workers find that their pay simply doesn't allow them the quality of life enjoyed by previous
generations.
Many Generation Z are living pay cheque to pay cheque, with no ability to put money in the bank and
no hope of ever being able to own a home. In an October 2022 survey, global management consulting
firm homeowners--a much higher figure than the 29% for the generation that precedes them, who are
currently in the 29-34 age bracket. Coupled with the constant threat of lay-offs redundancies in a
precarious global economy, such financial difficulties understandably weigh heavily on a lot of
young employees.
However, the problem of Generation Z workplace stress goes beyond economic concerns and worries
about the future. And it can be traced, at least in part, to the fact that many among this
generation entered the job market at a highly tumultuous and inopportune time in history: the
middle of the Covid pandemic. While this once-in-a-century global crisis allowed a lot of older,
more experienced workers to reap the benefits of working from home, for those just starting out in
in their careers it instead had the effect of stunting their professional development.
'So-called "osmosis learning" is of vital importance when you're new in a workplace,' explains
Deirdre Barrett, a human resources consultant. 'As employees, we acquire a lot of the knowledge
necessary to perform competently in an office, for example, from the people in our physical
proximity, meaning our colleagues and supervisors. The pandemic robbed a lot of young people of that
experience by forcing them to work remotely right at the start of their careers. As a result, many
of them now report suffering from a lack of confidence as they're physically entering their place of
work for the first time--even though, in some cases, they've already been employed for a couple of
years.'
Not all of this knowledge relates directly to the specific duties of the job, either. 'It's hard to
feel confident in your professional role when you're not familiar with the norms, values and
etiquette of your workplace,' says Jason Stenhouse, professor of a business school. 'Every place of
work has a different culture, but this isn't something that can be taught remotely through manuals
or online training sessions. The only way to properly learn what tis considered appropriate behavior
among your colleagues is by observing and experiencing it first-hand, in person.'
Working remotely has also kept new hires from developing the kinds of interpersonal relationships
that make a job truly rewarding when times are good--and bearable when they are not. Whether you are
celebrating the successful completion of a project or blowing off steam about the latest troubles at
work, having informal interactions with your colleagues has always been in integral part of the
traditional workplace experience. Having day-to-day in-person interactions is also what allows new
recruits to build relationships with people who can act as mentors, whether they be a superior or a
more experienced colleague.
It's hardly surprising, then, that out of all generations of workers, Generation Z are the least
confident in their current job or role. According to LinkedIn data from December 2022, less than a
half of 18- to 25-year-olds feel extremely confident--meaning perfectly capable in every aspect of
the role--as opposed to almost 60% among the older generations. Jeni(surname withheld), a
23-year-old New Yorker who recently started working for a small investment firm, relates an
experience that is likely to resonate with a lot of Generation Z.
'Because of the pandemic, I did practically the entire last year of my business degree in isolation,
working all by myself in my tine little apartment, It kind of started to drive me round the bend, if
I'm honest, so I was thrilled when I managed to land a job right out of college. I was looking
forward to enjoying the get-togethers of in and out of the office--gossiping around the water cooler
and having a drink together after work--but I ended up working remotely almost exclusive for the
first six months of my employment.
'When I did finally make it into the office, I felt like I should have been mor at home, given that
I'd been working for the company for a while already. Instead, it was a weirdly alien
experience--and a highly anxiety-including one at that, I've got to know most of my colleagues
better since then, but I still don't feel like I fully belong, Eve if the situation improves, I
suspect I'll always feel like I'm a few steps behind where I would have been if I'd started the job
under "normal" circumstances.'
With Covid now in the rear-view mirror, hopefully Generation Z will finally get to experience that
normality. Whether that means their workplace struggles are entirely behind them, however, still
remains to be seen.