Gen Z Usually Has 6 Seemingly Outrageous Work Rules That Gen X & Boomers Refuse To Accept
Diva Plavalaguna | Pexels Gen Z cares too much about their personal time and well-being to mindlessly accept traditional workplace expectations. So, they're pushing back on old-school corporate standards and norms.
They prefer to put their own work-life balance and personal values first, even if it angers their Gen X and boomer peers. Their work rules may seem outrageous to older generations, but they're necessities for young people entering the workforce.
Seemingly outrageous work rules Gen Z has that older generations refuse to accept
1. Professional dress doesn't have to mean blazers and suits
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Gen Zers are unwinding traditional ideas of professionalism, including pushing back on rigid dress codes and even criticizing corporate lingo. They value inclusivity and authenticity, and argue that expecting workers to wear uncomfortable outfits or gender-specific clothing isn't doing them any favors.
Instead, they require a layer of flexibility. They understand there are some kinds of clothes that aren't appropriate for work, but still don't want to be forced to dress in accordance with feeling constantly uncomfortable while trying to get work done.
2. You need to work for companies that align with your values
While it's a somewhat privileged approach to assume that everyone can pay the bills by working with brands or companies that align with their values, it's a workplace expectation that many Gen Zers do have. Yes, they want meaning and purpose, but some of that comes from feeling aligned with the mission of the company they're working for.
For Gen Xers and boomers, who were raised to have company loyalty and grit regardless of the environment or job, it's completely outrageous. To Gen Zers, though, it's a necessity they need in order to stick around.
3. You don't need to explain your time off
Whether it's using sick time for mental health days or needing to take a last-minute PTO day when something goes wrong at home, Gen Z employees believe they shouldn't have to explain themselves to managers. Their time is their own to use, and they're entitled to spend it however they want, without feeling guilty.
Compared to older generations who often perceive time off from work as something you have to earn, this mentality brings up frustration. Concerning mental health, which so many older workers are still battling stigma around, it's easy to hold resentment for young people using their paid time off when they believe it's something you must work for.
4. Not everything needs to be an in-person meeting
Older generations tend to prefer traditional forms of communication at work, including face-to-face meetings. To them, they're easier and more respectful, while Gen Zers prefer to do most of their communication through email or texts.
Young workers are tired of feeling like meetings could have been shorter or summed up in an email, particularly when they're the reason they have to be at an in-person office to begin with.
They might be on to something, considering many workers face meeting overload from having too many on their schedules that harms their productivity. Their entire day becomes meetings that could have been emails or quick phone calls, and they have less time to offer their actual obligations.
5. Flexibility should be a nonnegotiable
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Surprisingly, Gen Zers are least in favor of working fully remote jobs, especially at the beginning of their careers. But they do value and require flexibility. Whether that's being able to go to an appointment during the day or having the space to work from home on certain days, they need it.
For Gen X and boomer workers who have had to deal with and manage inflexible work schedules for decades, it's completely unacceptable to them. They believe they've worked hard to have more flexibility, and are watching young people get it without any effort.
6. After-work socials and weekend events are optional
The last thing most people want to do after a long day of work is to spend more time with their co-workers. The weekend picnics and happy hours might be an opportunity to connect with your team, but for young people, they should never be an obligation.
For older generations, they likely felt pressure to go to these events or felt like their promotions were tied up in how many things they attended. For Gen Zers, though, they're rewriting these expectations.
They don't believe people should be punished for putting their personal lives first, regardless of whether or not other peers think they're being disloyal or disrespectful.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
