Gen Z and the Workplace: Why the Traditional 9-to-5 Is Dead

What Does Gen Z Really Want in the Workplace?

An analysis of 59 publications from 2015–2025 clearly shows that Gen Z in the workplace prioritizes work-life balance, transparent pay, and rapid professional development. The results clearly suggest that traditional employment models are losing their relevance for a generation raised in a completely digital and globalized world.

Gen Z isn’t just looking for a job that offers a paycheck. Young people expect something more, like balance, a sense of purpose, and relationships based on respect. Academic studies accurately describe four key needs of this group.

Recommended: How to Sleep Better: 6 Habits Neurologists Recommend

Work-Life Balance and Well-Being

According to a study from Oxford Brookes University, young people demand mental health support, a sense of balance, and an inclusive culture from employers. It turns out that rapid career advancement is no longer enough. Instead, their work must give them a sense of value, belonging, and understanding.

Transparent Pay and Fairness

An analysis of scientific publications on the ResearchGate platform shows that pay transparency and a clear development path are also essential conditions for engaging Gen Z in the workplace.

Technology and Informal Communication

Gen Z grew up with a smartphone in their hand and expects the workplace to be as fluid as their digital environment. A study published in the March 2025 issue of the SA Journal of Industrial Psychology showed that the digitalization of processes and informal, rapid communication are elements that increase the productivity of young workers.

Mental Health and Pressure

An analysis by Stanford University scientists shows that Gen Z suffers from low emotional well-being. It turns out that isolation, social pressure, and being online 24/7 have a significant impact on their professional needs. For this generation, work-life balance is a fundamental condition.

Implications for the Polish Labor Market

And what about Gen Z in the workplace in Poland? A recent study conducted in Poland also draws attention to the issue of the homogeneity of Polish Gen Z. A lot depends on gender or place of residence. For Gen Z from the Opole region, money will be the most important thing, while for those in the Lublin region, it’s development.

“Gen Z is not one uniform group with the same expectations. Young people from different regions of Poland think about work differently, have different priorities, and are motivated by different things. Therefore, if a company really wants to reach them, one universal offer is not enough. You have to understand what truly matters to these young people in a given location and what can make them stay for the long term,” says Magdalena Pietkiewicz, co-author of the study Work War Z.

Where Science and the Market Meet

Gen Z in the workplace is redefining what it means to have a job. Advancement and position are no longer goals in themselves. Today, what matters is purpose, balance, and partnership. Employers must adapt their organizational structures and culture to the values of young people. Otherwise, they will be pushed out of the market by those who have the courage to leave and find a better place—not just for their career, but for themselves.

Read the original article: Nie dla korpo za wszelką cenę. Pokolenie Z chce czegoś więcej