13 Going on 30: Understanding Gen Z in the workplace (and life)

One time, I stumbled upon a lively discussion on X on whether immediately shutting down your laptop at 5 PM is acceptable. I’m aware that some jobs or companies expect you to linger a bit at your desk, but what I didn’t expect was how strongly people felt towards a certain group that actually packed up and left as soon as it was clock-out time — the Generation Z, aka the newest addition to the workforce. Before long, Gen Z was crowned with some infamous titles, such as ‘lazy’, ‘difficult to work with’, and even ‘entitled’. Ouch.

Naturally, as a Gen Z myself, I become a little defensive over the stereotype, yet at the same time, grow frustrated with my peers who casually hop on social media and complain about the minutest detail of their work via skits that, unfortunately, are no longer funny. However, this phenomenon obviously does not appear out of thin air, and upon reflecting on my experiences and listening to others, I can argue that Gen Z’s crude take on work ethic is indicative of deeper, more complex socioeconomic and political challenges unique to our time.

What is the deal with Gen Z, really?

There is no definitive categorisation of which people belong to the Gen Z cohort. The Strauss-Howe generational theory suggests that a generation typically lasts for 21 years before a new one is born, and each generation has a particular persona shaped by the historical events that they live in. Thus, according to various studies and academic reviews, Gen Zs are referred to as people born after 1997.

The turn of the 21st century was marked by inventions inseparable from our lives today, and Gen Z lives and breathes them ever since we were born. It was not without challenge, but living conditions were generally prosperous, driven by rapid yet unsustainable neoliberal growth. Gen Z is said to be more educated and well-behaved, but more lonely and depressed compared to the previous generations, as reported by The Economist.?

A native to cyberspace, Gen Z takes interactions seriously on social media, shifting the physical space of youth rebellion and subculture from IRL to URL, and self-presentation becomes performance. It is a highly surveilled environment that we are consciously participating in, and we know it’s unnatural, hence the layers of irony that clad it.

Walking on the boulevard of broken dreams

Gen Z trails behind their older sibling Millennial as the second most educated generation in history. For context, Gen Z in Indonesia lives under the 12-year mandatory schooling regulation, but the chance of finishing the school year is starkly different from one Gen Z to another. Already, there is an intra-generational socioeconomic gap, and it widens even more for those with disabilities. And just like Millennials, Gen Zs are also facing a job market that does not need them. The advice of “Go to school, work hard so you can buy a house” seems more like a hardly attainable dream to some. I got a reality check when I found out that only 10% of Indonesians have a university degree, and that figure is spread across the living generations.?

It puts into perspective how education is still more of a privilege than a basic human right, and frankly, blaming 9.9% of unemployed Indonesian youths for “not trying hard enough to get a job” is unproductive and unfair. Even for those who are employed, following the old advice of getting a degree and working hard is not enough. A fierce competition for a long-hour job with only a liveable wage is somehow normalised now. With salaries often 19 times lower than the average house price, survival, rather than truly living, is the best many can hope for. Such a structural problem is not a personal responsibility to solve.

This harsh economic reality understandably leads to disillusionment among Gen Z. The lack of opportunities and the diminishing returns on our efforts are taxing us in all possible ways. When you know that no matter how hard you work, it barely makes a difference, it’s only natural to choose to do things on your own terms, right?

Empathy as the secret to adulting amid crisis

Ultimately, crises are bound to human history. We try our best to adapt, which partly explains the differences in work ethic and values we hold in our lives. COVID-19 was arguably the biggest crisis Gen Z faced at a critical point of our lives: as we came to age and entered adulthood. While we were less affected health-wise, the implications of social distancing and economic difficulties hit us hard. Mental health among young people declined as social lives and relationships disintegrated. Many lost loved ones, university students struggled with the stress of coursework and cabin fever, and countless young people were cut off from their employment.

Even after four years, there is still much to repair and recover. Thus, a little empathy can go a long way, both from older generations and among Gen Z ourselves. Amidst challenges with the environment, economy, and socioeconomic equality, I think Gen Zs are passionate about making the world a better place, and we definitely want to contribute to our cause. We want our work to contribute to meaningful causes without the constant worry about living costs.

So, to fellow Gen Zs, we have some attitude adjustments to make if we truly want to bring about influential changes in society. We cannot do it alone, and we cannot do it selfishly if we need others’ help. And to everyone else, please bear with us as we navigate our journey into adulthood. We are still figuring things out, and a little bit of support can really make a significant difference.