Gen Z employees say 'lazy,' 'unprofessional' stereotypes hurt career growth
A majority of Gen Z employees feel that preconceptions about their generation are negatively impacting their careers.
According to a new survey from education-focused online magazine Intelligent, eight-in-10 respondents say that Gen Z stereotypes have had negative impacts on their work experience, with 48% feeling stereotypes have limited their opportunities for career growth.
Nearly six-in-10 (59%) of those surveyed believe they are perceived as having a poor work ethic because of their age. More than half (53%) also feel they’re seen as lacking professionalism, while 44% report that others view them as easily offended or lacking loyalty. They also report being perceived as entitled (42%), resistant to authority (39%) and overly “woke” (38%).
Gen Z survey respondents reported significant challenges in the workplace, such as feeling a greater need to prove their competence compared to older colleagues (32%) or experiencing undesired micromanagement (26%). Nearly 26% felt excluded from growth or advancement opportunities, while 22% found themselves assigned lower-level or “busy work” that seemed to undermine their contributions.
[READ MORE: Report: Gen Z, millennials have positive financial outlook]
To counter negative stereotypes about Gen Z, many are going the extra mile to prove themselves. Nearly half (46%) say they’ve had to work especially hard to demonstrate leadership potential, while others cite additional areas where they feel pressured to overcompensate, such as commitment and reliability (34%), technical skills (33%) and independent work abilities (32%).
“When employees are unfairly labeled as ‘lazy’ or ‘entitled’ it can be extremely demotivating and contribute to a lack of confidence that may create barriers to new opportunities for them,” said Intelligent’s chief education and career development advisor Huy Nguyen. “[Gen Z] grew up as digital natives, accustomed to constant connectivity, instant answers and rapid change, leading them to prioritize flexibility, purpose and mental well-being. Some may interpret this as a lack of work ethic or professionalism, however, it is often a desire for work-life integration and a rejection of outdated workplace norms.”
In Intelligent's survey, over a third (37%) of Gen Z employees report tension with older colleagues. Of this group, nearly six-in-10 (58%) believe that negative stereotypes about Gen Z are the root cause.
Respondents say that stereotypes cause clashes in attitudes or expectations among generations (70%), perceived differences in work styles (67%) and communication challenges (66%).
“Gen Z has grown up with mobile devices and high-speed internet and more often prefers instant messaging and collaborating asynchronously using digital tools,” added Nyugen. “They often prefer quick, informal communication channels over following email strings or formally scheduled meetings. This can clash with older generations’ preferences for more formal workplace communication.”
The survey was commissioned by Intelligent.com and conducted on Pollfish in November 2024. In total, 1,000 full-time Gen Z employees completed the survey.
