Why Young Workers Are Putting In So Much Overtime

In the current economic climate, Gen Zers are pulling especially long hours – and pushing themselves to the brink of burnout. Plus, is it time for AI optimism??

The young employees putting in ‘free’ work

Jasmin has always been a hard worker. While studying for her undergraduate degree in cultural and media studies at the University of Leeds, UK, she would routinely put in up to 30 hours per week at a part-time job to pay her rent. She then secured a full-time job at a PR agency while midway through her master’s degree.

Now a media-relations executive at that same company, Jasmin no longer works a part-time job in addition to a full-time role – but she’s still putting in plenty of overtime.

“I often start my day very early reading what’s breaking news in education, tech or the climate, as my job requires me to know what’s going on across a very broad range of topics,” says Jasmin, now 25. “Often in the evenings, I’ll spend a couple of hours making sure I’m ready for the next day, and on a Sunday, I’ll often head to Caffè Nero for a coffee and croissant to do admin and make sure I’m set up for the week ahead.”

Her partner and friends of a similar age approach work in much the same way, she says, taking business on holiday; or cramming in extra hours in evenings, mornings and weekends.

Some statistics and experts alike say young people are the most likely to be putting in unpaid overtime. April data from ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2023 report, which surveyed 32,000 workers across 17 countries, showed people aged?18 to 24 tend to put in an extra eight hours and 30 minutes of ‘free’ work?per week by starting early, staying late or working during breaks and lunchtime. That compares to seven hours and 28 minutes for 45-to-54-year-olds, and just five hours 14 minutes for those 55 and older.

Gen Z workers have had to navigate a tough job environment from the start of their careers. Many started their jobs during the pandemic, and others have?experienced furloughs or layoffs for the first time?while still in their early 20s. Lots of these workers have also watched companies scale back on jobs, pay rises and promotions to survive the ongoing economic uncertainty.

Experts say this has left many of them insecure about both their jobs and their longer-term career prospects, feeling they need to prove their worth to an employer by piling on the extra hours. It’s an effect that’s left them toiling in overtime – and setting them up for stress and burnout down the line.

Read more from Megan Tatum on why Gen Z is pulling long hours.

How embracing artificial intelligence is getting workers ahead

Some people find it hard not to panic when reading the latest iteration of the ‘AI is going to take your job’ headline – especially considering the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence tools in recent years. But Gus Nisbet, a 30-year-old music producer, is excited about what AI has to offer the workplace.

“It's all about co-creation,” says Nisbet, who also works as a creative strategist at sonic branding agency MassiveMusic in London. He is already using generative AI tools including OpenAI’s ChatGPT to streamline administrative tasks and enhance creative projects. “I’ll start up the idea and then use AI to flesh it out and develop it in more varied ways,” he says.

Since Nisbet has integrated AI tools into his daily workflow, he’s seen a huge surge in efficiency. Tasks that usually take a half-day to complete, like analysing client feedback on a project, can be handled much faster when run through ChatGPT. “If you are using it in the right way, on the right task, you can crunch about four or five hours of work into about 30 minutes,” he says. He uses that extra time to focus on the tasks that require complex thinking and creativity.?

While the growing capabilities of AI are certainly making?many workers anxious, others are embracing the technology. They are already using the tools to improve on-the-job productivity and efficiency. And emerging data shows that there may be more AI optimism in the workplace than headlines – and our own biases – lead us to believe. This is a good thing – and can ultimately help workers excel in their jobs.

Read more from Sophia Epstein on how embracing AI gets workers ahead.

• One more thing: Do a great pedigree and excellent hard skills matter to recruiters now as much as they once did? Joanna York explains .

As always, we’ll be back next week. Visit BBC Worklife ?and?BBC Business for the latest until then.

–Meredith Turits, Editor, BBC Worklife

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