Gen Z goes to work! Pyjama-clad new employees video-calling from work, ghosting managers mid-project, and demanding fast promotions

As Generation Z, also called Gen Z, is starting to join the workforce, managers across the world are raising eyebrows and often labelling them as the “nightmare generation”.

Statistics show Gen Z not following norms

According to the San Francisco Standard, 12.5% of the new generation of employees are not following any dress code, video-calling from the office desk or, according to a 2024 survey by Intelligent.com, even bringing their parents to job interviews. 

If pyjama-clad employees joining corporate meetings was not enough as a workplace clash, ghosting supervisors mid-project is also not uncommon.

According to the SFS report, managers claimed that some Gen Z employees have even expressed expectations for rapid promotions, right after joining.

Employers turn to coaches

Etiquette coach Rosalinda Randall told the San Francisco Standard that demand for her workplace civility sessions has increased by over 50% in recent months.

Her training workshops, often costing as much as Rs 2.1 lakh ($2,500) for a 90-minute session, address everything from professional hygiene and email etiquette to how to interact respectfully with colleagues, the report stated.

Many companies are introducing internal “playbooks” to specify basic expectations around communication, meeting conduct and collaboration tools like Slack.

In a conversation with Financial Express Education, Rahul Attuluri, the Co-Founder and CEO of NxtWave, said, “Gen Z doesn’t just want jobs, they want to create impact. They’re aware that real innovation comes from building, not just using.”

Who are Gen Z?

Born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, Generation Z comes after millennials and before Generation Alpha. This cohort grew up in a digital-first world, where smartphones, social media and instant communication have always been the norm.

By 2025, while some of them are just entering their teens, many are already in their early twenties, emerging as a powerful force across the workforce, the consumer market and social change movements.

Rahul Attuluri claimed that Gen Z  has a unique blend of mindset and environment, which can make them leaders in the tech space.

“They’re curious, they learn fast and they’re incredibly product-aware,” he shared. “They don’t wait for permission. They build, break and rebuild fearlessly.”

Also read: ‘Stakeholder told me to stop talking in meetings because of my accent,' claims Indian professional working in US (startuppedia.in)