Are they the most misunderstood generation in the office?
Gen Z gets plenty of side-eye from older colleagues for coming across entitled, lazy and always glued to their phone. Yet when managers point out these issues, they feel totally misjudged. Are Zoomers really a management nightmare? Let’s take a Deep Dive.
👩🏻💻 Growing up amid economic uncertainty, technological disruption and rising social awareness, Gen Z approaches work with pragmatism, clear boundaries and a focus on personal growth.
😐 The perception that Zoomers are difficult to work with stems from mismatched expectations and values: flexibility versus face time, feedback versus hierarchy, purpose versus paycheque.
🤝 Evidence suggests that generational divides at work are subtler than assumed, but preconceptions about them can make collaboration harder than it needs to be.
QUOTABLE
“I don’t think we’re lazy, and I do think we work hard. It’s just they try to place it as lazy simply because we’re not working how they work.”
— DeAndre Brown, content creator
BY THE NUMBERS
3 Young professionals across Asia-Pacific, such as from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, prefer to spend an average of three to four years in a job before moving on.
60% Sixty per cent of Gen Z workers in Asia say they want to retire by age 50, continuing a millennial-led push for financial independence and an early exit from high-stress careers.
86% Eighty-six per cent of Zoomers globally say purpose is key to job satisfaction, with even higher figures among those in Singapore.
QUIZ
While millennials are often described as workplace idealists, what are Zoomers most commonly described as?
A. Socialites
B. Altruists
C. Pragmatists
D. Traditionalists
Scroll to the bottom for the answer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ever noticed the Gen Z stare? That blank, unresponsive look millennials say they get from younger colleagues has become a workplace meme.
THE EDIT
🧟♀️ No more hustle. Across China and the US, youth are pushing back against hustle culture, choosing balance over burnout and creating their own version of the buzzword.
📈 Lead differently. To bridge the gap, managers must become coaches who can offer context, clarity and purpose that connect daily tasks to long-term growth.
💰 Show me the money? Many Zoomers say they don’t aspire to be managers due to stress and diminishing returns, but the paycheque might still change a few minds.
WATCH
American researcher Amanda Schneider challenges the myths surrounding Gen Z employees and explains how their preferences can shape workplaces to become more flexible and productive.
THE FULL PICTURE
In the US, younger workers, especially Zoomers, are the least likely to prefer fully remote jobs. According to advisory company Gallup’s May 2025 survey, only 23 per cent of them say they would chose fully remote work, partly because many feel isolated behind the screen.
KEY PLAYER
Alexandr Wang
At 25, Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire when Meta acquired his company. Scale AI provides data labelling and evaluation tools essential for training models across industries. He now serves as Meta’s chief AI officer, leading its Meta Superintelligence Labs.
HONOUREE TO KNOW
Natalie Chan
Founded by Natalie Chan in 2016, Own Academy empowers young people to take ownership of their learning by connecting education with real-world experiences. Through exposure to the skills and day-to-day work of professionals across various industries, students gain insight into unfamiliar career paths, building adaptability, curiosity and confidence for the future.
ONE FINAL THING
While many Zoomers use AI to sharpen their skills, access remains uneven: men receive more training than women, and white-collar staff more than those in operational roles.
