The Generation Z gets characterized as the lazy lot with poor ambitions. Yet, the truth is different today’s young professionals, on the starting grid of the career league, are changing the definition of success, shattering the conventional forms of work that have defined the corporate landscape for many decades.
They are the new category of “lazy girl jobs” Loosely defined by the TikToker Gabrielle Judge, these are said to be relatively low-stress, full-time, good-paying jobs with minimal oversight. “There’s lots of jobs out there where you could make, like, 60 to 80 K and not do that much work and be remote,” Judge said in a viral video. This idea has struck a chord with a lot of people, especially women, with the #lazygirljob hashtag amassing over 17 million views.
Though it might give one an impression to the contrary, the “lazy job girl” movement is not asking for shirking work totally. Rather, it’s all about striking that balance toward having a wholesome life away from work. For many youth working class persons, this may be a job from which they absent multiple hours of punching in and out of a time clock or a job that does not have a busy commute and provides a paycheck that allows for independence. Basically, a healthy work environment that continually ensures regard for mental health and personal time.
For Louis, a London-based tech manager who feels like he’s “possibly at peak earning potential,” the phrase “lazy girl job” resonated because it’s how he feels about work these days. “There’s nothing s**ier to me now than a 9 to 5 at a big company, with all the anonymity. where I can just walk off at five and just do other things,” he says. These have only deepened his sense of disillusionment: “You have to hustle incredibly hard, job hop and be incredibly aggressive with your progression. That is exhausting,” Louis explains.
Work-life balance for Generation Z is also a response to mental health. More than half of the Gen Zers said they have been told by a healthcare professional that they had a mental health condition or were treated for a mental health condition. This tally rises considerably when contrasted with other age groups. It may in part be due to the fact that Gen Z is the first to grow up amid mass shootings, and now a pandemic.
This is something recent graduate Piper Hansen also feels about the 9-to-5 grind: “How am I supposed to fit my whole life into a 9-to-5 work schedule?” she asks. She likes her job, but the energy-draining routine leaves her feeling beaten down. “I do wish there were more options for schedules that are conducive to actually having a life outside of work,” she added.
This means that, according to some experts, people are now looking for lazy girl jobs; that is, somewhere in the same field. “Employees are seeking more work-life balance and are not as willing to over-deliver at work in a way that risks compromising their well-being and personal life,” says Uman. Eliana Goldstein, a career coach, mentions that the trend of holding a “lazy girl job” is a direct response to the culture of overwork that has dominated for decades.
Gen Zs are not just there for the paycheck but want something that jives with their values and enables them to keep a balanced life. More than 80% of Gen Z will leave their current job if needs be for another that better fits their personal values, according to LinkedIn. Sustainability and commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of their personal commitments.
After all, they find work-life balance and mental wellness as part of their individual ambition; Generation Z doesn’t lack it. They are, in fact, driven, yet naturally ambitious in a totally different way. Many don’t want to climb corporate ladders just like that. They look forward to roles that will give them flexibility and fulfillment.
At the end of the day, the discourse on Gen Z and work begins to shift: They are not rejecting work per se, just advancing a different kind of work environment one that recognizes the importance of balance, mental health, and personal fulfillment. As truly put by Gabrielle Judge, “There’s nothing wrong with expecting to have a job that pays you well, gives you good work-life balance, and doesn’t overwork you.”
In the end, Gen Z’s approach could very well reshape the future of work for everyone, creating environments where people are both productive and happy. After all, better is possible.