08-15-2024
Communication in the workplace is changing as Gen Z increases its presence there, according to a recent report in The Guardian. Gen Z prefers to be informal in their messaging, whether in or out of the workplace. The article highlights out-of-office messaging as an example of Gen Z's light approach: "The bad news is that I'm out of the office. The good news is that I'm out of the office" or “On vacation. Hoping to win the lottery and never return.”
Gen Z was born between 1997 and 2012 and will make up 27% of the workforce by next year. Older generations learned to "code switch" between the office and the rest of their lives, meaning they are formal in business settings. Gen Z is pushing back on making that distinction. The increased amount of individuals working from home adds to the relaxation of the wall between home and the office.
There are other examples of Gen Z using more relaxed language at work. The Guardian states Gen Z may not want to end their communications with the formal "Best wishes" and "Kind Regards." Some Gen Z replacements are "Slay, serve, survive" or, for a tough day, "Heavy sigh." The softening of language is part of Gen Z's preference for more collaborative work environments where flexibility and work-life balance exist. Prior generations entered a work world where they had to work their way up through formal structures and long hours. That way of working may conflict with Gen Z's search for more open and inclusive cultures that provide the ability to create new ways of working.