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Bosses Are Firing Gen Z and Millennials Left and Right (And Honestly, We See Why)

The "kids" do make some good points, though.

By Cassandra Yorgey

Edited by Lisa Dammeyer

Updated Dec. 11, 2025

Every generation has shaken up the employment landscape upon entering the workforce. Employers say millennials and Gen Z are different, though, and that the kids these days are never going to get ahead financially unless they get with the program.

Are the young adults entering the workforce wrong, or are they on the frontlines of an age-old battle for employee rights? Here's how millennials and Gen Z are different from past generations in the workplace, why it is frustrating employers, and how the broader work environment is impacting these young workers.

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AI is replacing entry-level work

For starters, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken some of the jobs that these generations would naturally be most eligible for. Entry-level job postings have declined about 35% in the past two years, hitting Gen Z the hardest as they have entered the workforce. Why pay an untested youth when you can use AI for simple tasks and avoid paying salaries?

For the younger generations just entering the workforce, the challenge is to embrace the AI shift while also developing skills to complete tasks that can't be replicated by AI, such as critical thinking and communication.

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Gen Z has a rap for being unmotivated

Another reason Gen Z may be struggling to find work? They sometimes get a bad rap for their work ethic. Among managers who recently had to fire a Gen Z employee, 50% of them cited a lack of motivation or initiative as the primary reason for letting them go, according to a 2024 survey from Intelligent.

Managers generally want to see younger generations take more initiative, volunteer for different assignments, and ask thoughtful questions. However, employers can also have a skewed sense of reasonable expectations. This is why it's also important for managers to set clear, actionable, and quantifiable goals for millennials and Gen Z before jumping to firing them.

They have different dress-code expectations

Some millennials and members of Gen Z have a different idea of what "office appropriate attire" means. If a position is client-facing, these generations may have to be coached specifically on what kind of clothes should be worn and why.

The real clash is often over non-client-facing work, however, which the younger generations generally view as having a casual dress code. This is especially true if the wardrobe expense is expected to come out of their own pocket. Nice clothes are expensive, and if the salary isn't covering the basic cost of living then it sure isn't enough for a whole new closet full of clothes.

There's a language barrier

An astounding 53% of hiring managers feel that Gen Z college graduates lack communication skills, according to a 2024 Intelligent survey. This is the first truly digital generation that grew up with the internet, smartphones, and emojis as part of their everyday life and their primary way of communicating. Plus, many of them didn't benefit from going into an office and interacting with colleagues face-to-face early in their careers.

As a result, it's not just their vocabulary that's different from other generations but their entire set of interpersonal skills, which have been shaped by digital technology and communication. This can pose unique challenges in the workplace between colleagues and clients of different generations.

They prioritize work-life balance

Many millennials went all-in on "hustle culture" when they originally joined the workforce, but Gen Z has taken a different approach. They reject many of the norms of previous generations, like working long hours and overtime.

Baby boomers who were rewarded for working hard and able to climb the corporate ladder can find this frustrating. But millennials are aware that this reward system did not always extend to them and are joining Gen Z in trying to reclaim the ability to have a life outside of work. This can put both generations at the top of the list when a company is downsizing and would prefer to keep workers who are more dedicated to their careers.

A college degree can't actually replace on-the-job training

Gen Z has less access to on-the-job training than previous generations. Many employers wanted to outsource training to colleges and universities, and placed too high a preference on degrees over experience, leading to a generation of highly knowledgeable but inexperienced workers.

Then, the pandemic hit, and in-office work became more limited, further stunting Gen Z's opportunities to learn from others in the workplace. A study by Adobe found that 83% of Gen Z members surveyed indicated they felt a workplace mentor was crucial to success, but only about half reported actually having a mentor from whom they could learn.

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Younger workers struggle with chronic lateness

Expectations to be at a place at a time are perfectly reasonable, but younger workers sometimes struggle with this. For a generation defined by pandemic-era at-home schooling, the internet is the primary workplace, and time doesn't matter quite so much. This is further complicated by return-to-office policies that require young adults to budget time for travel instead of just logging in to their laptop.

Employers struggling with chronically late young workers should be sure the employee understands the impact being late has on their team and the business. Many millennials and Gen Z place more importance on getting their work done than when exactly they are doing it.

What to do if you're a millennial or Gen Z

If you're a millennial or Gen Z yourself, don't feel discouraged. The good news is that many of these factors are within your control. Take the time to understand the culture of your workplace and your colleagues and managers.

Advocating for yourself is also extremely important in the current job environment. Find mentors, ask to be on new projects, and learn new skills — maybe that incorporate AI — that will set you apart. Your manager will appreciate you taking the initiative, and you will set yourself apart from other young workers.

Bottom line

Millennials and Gen Z share a rather bleak outlook on the workforce. A study by NerdWallet revealed that 75% believe they will have to work until they physically can't anymore. Pensions are a thing of the past, trust is severely eroded in Social Security, and AI is posing new threats to employees.

However, if younger generations can embrace AI and better understand their older colleagues (and vice versa), there is plenty of hope for a more innovative, optimistic workforce.

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