Climbing the corporate ladder to obtain one promotion after another certainly isn’t the defining moment it was once considered to be. In fact, middle managers are now some of the most stressed out and burnt-out individuals in the workplace.
Taking Notice
After watching parents and older siblings navigate the workplace, Gen Zer’s are taking a firm stance to become career minimalists. Like capsule wardrobes and the downsizing of stuff in the home, career minimalism is a simplification of what one will willingly give and/or do for their career.
An article written in Fast Company by Eve Upton-Clark further delved into this topic. Career minimalism is marked by disinterest in management roles with a priority for what happens after work, rather than during workday. This doesn’t change the fact that a job is still needed to pay the bills, but fulfillment and identity stem from creative pursuits and social causes, not work.
An August report from Glassdoor further clarified how the youngest generation in the workplace is choosing a different path. 68% of Gen Z workers said they wouldn’t pursue management if it weren’t for the paycheck or the title. This generation continues to show that ambition is for the passions in life outside of 9-to-5 work.
- 58% of Gen Z workers ease up at work during the summer.
- 31% of workers expect flexible hours to be the top benefit from Gen Z managers.
- Prioritizing employee well-being is a key expectation from younger leaders.
Glassdoor
Ripple Effects
As Gen Z yet again questions traditional workplace thinking, this shift holds the potential to affect generations of workers moving forward on the importance of professional success. This sentiment will likely grow as workers of all ages experience varied impacts created by layoffs and effects of AI implementation, in addition to feelings of burnout and stress already present. For example, a whopping 70% of Gen Z say AI at work has made them question their job security.
This environment is finding Gen Z seeking roles with more stability, including skilled trades, healthcare, government and education with many working to secure opportunities through executive placements. While corporate influence and traditional hierarchy still exist in these professions, much of Gen Z see these roles as a way to diversify their skills and build a more sustainable career path.
“We’ve traded the rigid career ladder for the career lily pad – a path where we can jump to whatever opportunity fits best at the moment,” said Morgan Sanner, Gen Z expert at Glassdoor and founder of Resume Official. “In the long run, that kind of flexibility is more sustainable, more realistic and better suited to today’s workplace realities.”
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