A simple message between a Gen Z employee and a millennial boss revealed just how much expectations in the workplace have changed.
The culture of overtime at the office has changed with Generation Z PHOTO Archive
Jessy Marshall, 35, owns Hive HQ, a public relations business. Its six employees are Generation Z.
One of her trusted employees recently texted her asking if she could leave early, not because of an emergency or to go to a doctor’s appointment, but because she saw no point in staying, reports the New York Post .
“Hi Jessy. I’m done with my work for the day…, can I log out? Kisses“, the employee wrote in the message he sent to his boss.
Marshall quickly replied to her message, saying she could log out if she was done with her work for the day.
That communication might seem crazy to anyone who worked during the heyday of hustle culture, when staying overtime at work was seen as a compliment rather than a cry for help, but Marshall said it’s normal in her business and it’s not a bad thing.
The 35-year-old said her Gen Z employees are honest, set “firm boundaries” and are aware of their mental workload.
“They’re much better at saying they’re feeling stressed or exhausted or out of sorts and need a break“, she told news.com.au.
Marshall said the younger generation of workers is more “self-aware” and not ready to burn out.
“They’re good at setting boundaries, but they’re also very good at making sure they work within their allotted timeshe said.
The business owner said that adjusting to this new normal took some time. By the time he was 20, it was just about burning the candle at both ends. Even now it is a “dependent on work” declared.
What he learned, however, is that Gen Z asking to go home early because they’ve finished their work isn’t a sign of laziness or audacity.
They’re just here to work smarter, not harder, which is good for her business and the office culture.
“On Fridays, I tell the girls: once you’re done, log out. Where we can, we close early, especially on Fridays, so they can give themselves a longer weekendshe said.
Technically, he loses time with his employees, and they work fewer hours, but Marshall said that doesn’t matter because their productivity when they are at work is very high.
“They are very proud of what they do, and I give them time to rejuvenate. If an urgent email came in, he would still respond because he knows it’s important, but can he wait? Then it can wait until Monday”.
The business owner discovered that Gen Zers aren’t working overtime for the sake of it because “production is smarter than hustle culture“.
Marshall said she believes Gen Zers are so disciplined about leaving work on time because work no longer has a stop button.
“Also, there isn’t really a stop button for our work. We work in social media and media, and there are always after-hours events or sometimes a campaign might be launched between 7pm and 9pmshe said.
u & u Recruitment Partners managing director Craig Sneesby previously told news.com.au that Generation Z should prioritize disconnecting from work when they can because we are in a “digital era” where work does not always have a clear stop and start time.
“Essentially, it’s a form of their social DNA. The art of true relaxation is perhaps a challenge of the modern agehe said.
Sneesby said the best way to avoid burnout is to establish “LIMITS” to reply to work emails.
“Try to be present in that moment. Set limits for answering emails and don’t become too accessible outside of business hourshe said.
Sneesby also said it’s important to remember that you can’t be “active” all the time, and if you try to be, you will only become “tired”.
