The Anxious Generation: What Gen Z Needs from Work (That We’re Still Not Quite Giving)

Let’s be honest—most workplaces say the right things.
Mental health days. EAPs. Leadership training. Psychological safety.
And a lot of it is genuine. We have come a long way.

But Gen Z—those born from the late ’90s to early 2010s—are still quietly (or not-so-quietly) struggling.
Anxiety is sky-high. Burnout is happening before 25. Many are questioning the point of it all.
Even in workplaces that pride themselves on being “wellbeing-forward,” something isn’t landing.

So what’s missing?

It’s not just about doing more.
It’s about doing things differently.

Here’s what Gen Z needs—specifically:
 1. Emotional fluency from leaders. Not just “I’m here if you need me,” but real emotional intelligence—listening, validating, guiding.
 2. Purpose as a foundation, not a perk. They want work to mean something—and they’ll disengage fast if it doesn’t.
 3. Clarity in ambiguity. They’ve grown up in a world of chaos (pandemics, climate crisis, global uncertainty). They crave transparency, direction, and a sense of grounding.
 4. Frequent feedback and micro-mentoring. Not the old annual review system—real-time connection, course-correction, and care.
 5. Safe space for emotional processing. Anxiety isn’t a weakness—it’s a signal. They want to feel seen, not managed.

And here’s the part we sometimes forget:

Gen Z were mostly raised by Gen X parents (like me).
We didn’t want to raise them the way we were raised.
We prioritised empathy, openness, and self-expression.
We told them to value their emotions, to speak up, to look for purpose over a paycheck.

And now they’ve entered the workforce—and they’re doing exactly what we taught them.
They’re not lazy.
They’re not entitled.
They’re holding us to the standard we told them to expect.

This isn’t a crisis of motivation—it’s a mismatch of meaning.

So the question isn’t “How do we make Gen Z fit in?”
It’s “Are we willing to evolve our workplaces to match the generation we helped shape?”

Because if we get this right—it won’t just benefit Gen Z.
It’ll make work better for everyone.

What have you noticed? Are you seeing this shift play out too?