Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 and 2012 with its innovative spirit and high digital connectivity, has brought major changes to the workspaces. However, behind this enthusiasm, new challenges emerge in maintaining the mental well-being of these young employees. Although several studies have highlighted the importance of psychological well-being in the workplace, there is still less research that specifically examines workplace mental health challenges faced by Generation Z.
Many researchers and experts say that Gen Z is the most stressed cohort in the workplace overall. Jumping into their careers in the past few years with some only just entering the workforce during the pandemic has put them in particularly difficult situations.
Major factors contributing to stress levels of Gen Z are directly work-related, such as heavy workload, poor work/life balance, unhealthy team cultures, unable to disconnect from office, working post office hours and inability to be their authentic self at work. Gen Zs either feel exhausted all or most of the time, or mentally distanced from their work, and often struggle to perform to the best of their ability because of burnout. Apart from these stressors workers also struggle with interpersonal relationships as there is confusion regarding the etiquette of work friendships. Working environments also play an important role in an employee’s life as having to go into an office, socialise and be managed feels very alien to a lot of young people. Also for Gen Z this anxiety exists majorly because they entered the workplace in an extraordinary climate. For university-aged Gen Zers, most of them finished their degrees in isolating, fully virtual learning environments during the pandemic, only to transition directly into a precarious economic situation and unusual workplace conditions. These conditions have, often, stunted Gen Z’s professional development, which weighs on them. Indeed, data indicates young workers are feeling ill-equipped within the workplace overall. Because of all of this, Gen Z workers experience more struggles with hostile work environments, mental- and physical health issues and even the inability to share one’s full self in the workplace.
They find themselves uncomfortable around non-inclusive behaviours at work. They experience harassment mostly in the form of inappropriate communications or unwanted approaches, while unwanted jokes remain the most frequent type of micro aggressions. Overall, women, non-binary, and LGBT+ respondents are less likely to report harassment, and even when they do report it, they are also less likely to feel their organisations have handled it well.
This generation is more susceptible to mental health concerns as they were born in a digital era full of uncertainty, and have unique characteristics that shape their expectations and challenges in the world of work. Additionally, the current economic situation along with rapid social and political changes add more to emotional stress.