They came. They saw. They FaceTimed from their desks.
As Gen Z floods the workforce, often after years of remote learning and work, a culture clash is simmering in the office spaces. Managers are raising eyebrows and occasionally calling etiquette coaches over what they describe as a seismic shift in workplace behavior. Forget watercooler chats. Think pajama-clad employees joining meetings, ghosting supervisors mid-project or according to a 2024 survey by Intelligent.com, even bringing their parents to job interviews. Yes, really. 12.5% of Gen Z candidates reportedly did just that, a report by the San Francisco Standard revealed.
With Gen Z employees navigating their first experiences in traditional office settings, many companies are reassessing how they onboard and support young professionals.
Employers in San Francisco have reported challenges in workplace behaviour that go beyond standard new-hire adjustments. According to the SFS report, managers claimed that some Gen Z employees have expressed expectations for rapid promotions, appeared for work in casual or inappropriate attire, or even conducted personal video calls from their desks. In some cases, the disconnect has been so wide that etiquette coaches are being brought in to help bridge the gap.
One such expert, Rosalinda Randall, told San Francisco Standard that demand for her workplace civility sessions has increased by over 50% in recent months. Her training workshops, often costing as much as Rs 2.1 lakh ($2,500) for a 90-minute session, address everything from professional hygiene and email etiquette to how to interact respectfully with colleagues, the report stated.
With return-to-office policies come new problems
The shift comes as return-to-office policies become more widespread, bringing employees who began their careers remotely into physical offices for the first time. Many companies are developing internal “playbooks” that lay out basic expectations around communication, meeting conduct and collaboration tools like Slack.
Universities are also playing a role. Some have introduced “etiquette dinners” to prepare students for the professional world, teaching them everything from how to dress appropriately to how to engage in workplace conversations, the report further said.
However, young employees say the responsibility does not rest solely on them. Some Gen Z workers report blurred boundaries and unrealistic expectations from their managers, especially regarding availability outside office hours.
As both sides navigate this evolving landscape, it’s becoming clear that workplace norms are in flux.