Who exactly is Gen Z? Let’s start with the basics. Gen Z refers to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012. That means they’re either just entering the workforce or are a few years into it, still figuring out the delicate balance between office deadlines and remembering to water their desk succulents.

Unlike Millennials who grew up with dial-up internet and Nokia ringtones, Gen Z was raised on Wi-Fi, TikTok, and the comforting knowledge that “there’s probably an app for that.” They are digital natives through and through, and this alone makes them look different at work, sometimes to the point of being misunderstood.

The Problems: Why Boomers and Gen X Roll Their Eyes

Step into any office and you’ll hear the complaints:

• “They don’t want to work hard”
• “They can’t live without their phones”
• “They want promotions in six months”
• “They don’t know how to answer emails properly”

And, to be fair, sometimes Gen Z does lack what we call “real-life skills.” Many grew up in a world where groceries can be ordered at 2 AM and arguments are won by finding the fastest meme reply. Cooking, repairing, or even making a phone call to the bank can feel like climbing Everest.

But here’s the thing: Aren’t these skills shaped by the world you grew up in? Boomers were raised to fix things with a screwdriver. Gen Z was raised to fix things with a YouTube tutorial. Different, not necessarily worse.

Why Gen Z is Hated at Work

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Gen Z faces hate in the workplace because they challenge traditions.

• They Question Authority: Not out of arrogance, but curiosity. A Gen Z employee will ask “Why do we need to sit in the office if the work can be done from home?” And sometimes managers don’t like explaining rules that were set decades ago.
• They Prioritize Mental Health: Older generations wore “burnout” like a “badge of honor.” Gen Z treats it like a “disease.” They’d rather take a mental health day than brag about working 80 hours a week.
• They Expect Purpose in Their Job: Gen Z doesn’t just want to earn money, they want to matter. If your company mission doesn’t align with their values, don’t be surprised if they leave for a startup that plants trees every time someone sneezes.

Why Gen Z Might Just Be Misunderstood

Here’s the flip side: Gen Z isn’t lazy, they’re efficient. They don’t hate work, they hate meaningless work. They aren’t entitled, they’re aware of their worth.

Think of this example: A Gen Z intern once suggested automating a manual reporting process that took a senior employee four hours every week. The intern did it in 30 minutes using a free tool they found online. The older employee called it “cheating”. The intern called it “working smart.” Who’s right? Depends on your definition of “work.”

The Clash of Generational Humor in the Workplace

Imagine a Baby Boomer forwarding a motivational quote on WhatsApp Group: “Teamwork makes the dream work”
Now imagine Gen Z replying with a SpongeBob meme: “ight, imma head out”
Both are trying to communicate. Both just… speak very different dialects of humor.

Lacking Real-Life Skills (But Maybe They Don’t Need Them?)

Yes, Gen Z often gets roasted for not knowing how to change a tire or cook rice without burning it. But let’s be real, every generation lacked something. Boomers couldn’t navigate Google Maps. Gen X didn’t know what to do when their Walkman ate their cassette. Millennials struggled with job stability.

Gen Z’s weakness? Practical offline skills. But their strength? Adapting faster than anyone when the world changes – which, let’s be honest, is happening every 15 minutes now.

As Charles Darwin said,

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

So, Gen Z maybe be doing the right thing.

Why They Might Be Right

Maybe the real “problem” is that Gen Z is holding up a mirror to the workplace. They remind us that work doesn’t have to mean endless suffering. That taking care of your mental health isn’t weakness. That asking “why” doesn’t mean disrespect, it means progress.

Should We Change Our Perspective?

Absolutely. Every new generation gets hated by the old.

• Boomers were once called “rebellious and lazy”
• Gen X was called “cynical slackers”
• Millennials were “selfish job hoppers”

Now it’s Gen Z’s turn to wear the crown of criticism.

The truth is, this cycle never ends. Each generation brings something new, and the older ones resist, until eventually, we adapt. The workplace evolves, not in spite of these clashes, but because of them.

Let’s Bridge the Gap with Love, Not Labels

Instead of hating, what if we tried listening? Instead of mocking, what if we tried mentoring? And instead of assuming Gen Z is the “problem”, what if we saw them as the spark for necessary change?

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing – meaningful work, respect, stability, and a little laughter along the way.

Final Thought

As American writer Sydney J. Harris once said,

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

Maybe the whole purpose of generational clashes is to do the same, to stop reflecting our frustrations and start opening windows of understanding.

So, Gen Z isn’t the hated generation. They’re just the next misunderstood one. And maybe, that’s how change begins.