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13 Reasons Gen Z Is Actually Thriving at Work (Despite What Boomers Say)

Turns out Gen Z has more work ethic and drive than you thought.

By Stacy Garrels

Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Dec. 18, 2025

Like every newest generation entering the workforce, Gen Z gets criticized for having "no work ethic."

Although the same career ladder older generations climbed no longer exists, Gen Z is still plodding on. They're prioritizing basic survival over ways to build wealth, or at least reaching typical, adult milestones.

Yet in many regards, Gen Z is thriving at work and pushing for workplace reforms that benefit us all.

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They're working three or more jobs

If you're a Boomer who thinks hours worked equate productivity, then Gen Z is the hardest-working generation ever.

Young workers are juggling a day job and side hustles, with many stacking together three or more.

Gen Z wants to reach traditional adult milestones, like home ownership, but the goalpost keeps getting pushed further back. Home prices have risen more than twice as fast as income since 2000, and many Gen Zers cobble together multiple gigs to cover rent.

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They're rebelling against pointless work, not overwork

Older generations see professional boundary-setting as laziness.

Gen Z abhors pointless busywork that leads to burnout with no payoff. Their outlook comes from watching their parents labor away with nothing to show for it.

Gen Z is economical: they're not anti-effort. They're anti-waste.

They're as enthusiastic as their paycheck

Gen Z is just like us: they have a great attitude and thrive at work when they're being paid enough to cover expenses — mortgage, student loans, utilities, medical bills, and groceries — with enough leftover for retirement savings and the occasional vacation.

When wages lag behind living costs, enthusiasm naturally follows.

This generation describes feeling worthless when they are not paid enough to meet basic expenses, in spite of degrees and advanced technology skills.

Gen Z is driving innovation

Gen Zers are digital natives. They instinctively reach for tech to solve problems. They're fluent in AI tools, automation, and data, and expect employers to modernize outdated systems.

This pressure is nudging companies toward more efficient, tech-forward operations that can actually keep up with a fast-changing economy.

Their push for mental health is benefiting everyone

Gen Z talks openly about stress, burnout, and anxiety, and backs up that talk with action.

Many won't stay in roles that wreck their mental health, even in a tough job market. They set and maintain boundaries on what's fair, and when they improve the office environment, everyone there benefits.

They work smarter, not harder

For many Gen Z workers, grinding 60-hour weeks is a red flag, not a badge of honor. They focus on efficiency, leveraging tech and AI, and keeping clear lines between work and personal life.

That doesn't mean every Gen Zer is a star performer, but they are making the point that a person's work ethic can't be measured in mouse clicks.

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They value actual productivity over virtue-signaling

Gen Z tends to measure work ethic by objective achievements, not long hours. They're more likely to question unpaid overtime or grind culture.

They're the first generation to collectively disdain staying late to work for free (or pretend to work).

Early in my career, I aimed to be my department's "last man standing" and impress the boss. In hindsight, I "donated" nearly 200 hours of free labor.

Many of my worse-off friends worked in ad agencies, where bosses published weekly productivity rankings and shared everyone's names and hours clocked the prior week.

Apart from tepid praise, there were no real rewards for the extra labor. Everyone's goal was optics over impact.

They seek personal growth over ladder-climbing

Gen Z is less interested in titles. They're focused on growth, flexibility, and meaningful work. Fewer say promotions are their top priority compared with Millennials a decade ago, yet many still expect to grow significantly in their fields.

Gen Zers are equally driven, but they'd rather learn, build skills, and achieve real outcomes than coast or chase vanity titles.

Many look for quick promotions

More specifically, 70% are eyeing a promotion within the next 18 months. This doesn't sound lazy.

Working toward an advancement reflects both confidence and urgency: they know stagnation doesn't pay. In a volatile job market, they're pushing for concrete progress, not vague promises that "it'll pay off someday."

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They value collaboration and authenticity

Gen Z tends to prize community, global awareness, and authenticity over rigid hierarchy and spit and polish.

They expect workplace tech to feel as intuitive as their favorite apps, and they're adept at pulling in huge amounts of information quickly.

This mindset can push workplaces toward more collaborative, connected, and human cultures, even if it unsettles traditionalists.

They value learning

This generation is highly self-directed. They have grown up with a literal arsenal of information at their fingertips. But they also want ongoing access to training and cross-functional projects, not just a yearly workshop.

Gen Z is pushing employers to build cultures with consistent opportunities to collaborate, upskill, and reskill, especially beneficial for older workers.

They value feedback and guidance

Annual reviews don't cut it. Gen Z prefers frequent conversations with managers who give real-time feedback, recognize wins, and listen to new ideas.

While older generations may dread being called to the boss' office, younger workers want alignment, accountability, and collaboration when it comes to their success.

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They're building a better workplace

Critics say Gen Z is "ruining" work. Others argue they're calling out broken systems.

Either way, Gen Z is forcing a cultural reckoning. Employers are rethinking dated workplaces with what Stephen Covey refers to as "Industrial Age leadership models."

Friction is inevitable, but so is the visible progress toward workplaces that are more humane, flexible, and productive.

Bottom line

Gen Z's openness about pay, mental health, and purpose can feel uncomfortable, but they're voicing what everyone wants: fair compensation, reasonable hours, and a life outside the office.

If you're looking to make extra money on the side without burning out, consider exploring side hustles that complement other skills and interests in a flexible, multi-stream job stack, like Gen Z is already doing.

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