Gen Z embraces office life after remote work era
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Generation Z is finding unexpected joy in traditional office culture after years of remote work isolation.
The shift is evident through social media trends like “Get Ready With Me” videos, where young professionals showcase their stylish #OfficeSiren and #CorpCore outfits, and the excitement around office perks like free snacks.
The allure of office life
For many Gen Z workers, the office represents an exciting experience.
Julia Quag, 23, told PopSugar, “It was exciting — I was coming from a job in retail and it was nice to go into the office.”
As Quag noted, “It was also cool to have the same schedule every day and having holidays and weekends. It was like being in school again.”
This sentiment is echoed in a report by professional services firm Seramount, which found that only 11% of Gen Z workers prefer fully remote work, compared to 34% of non-Gen Z employees.
A Gallup survey also reveals that 65% of remote-capable Gen Z employees prefer a hybrid model, higher than millennials (60%), Gen X (58%), and baby boomers (56%).
“They [Gen Z] need time onsite to learn how to work effectively within their organization, build relationships, and feel like a part of the organization’s culture,” Ben Wigert, Gallup’s director of research and strategy for workplace management, explained.
Meanwhile, a survey from ResumeBuilder.com debunks the popular narrative that Generation Z workers are unmotivated and dislike their jobs.
The survey found that 64% actually like or love their current job. Twenty-four percent feel neutral about their job, while 9% dislike their job, and 3% hate it.
“Gen Z is much more self-aware than I’ve seen of other generations entering the workforce. They know what they want and don’t want in the workplace, and they align their values to their career,” said Resume Builder’s resume and career strategist Julia Toothacre.
Experts weigh in on Gen Z’s interest in office life
Career coach and University of Cincinnati assistant professor Nadia Ibrahim-Taney sees this enthusiasm as natural.
“Starting new experiences should always be somewhat exciting, bringing nervousness, joy, and a little fear. If young people want to be excited and romanticize office life a bit, I say let them go for it,” she told PopSugar.
Ella Halstead, a senior analyst at market research firm Canvas8, emphasized the importance of in-person interactions for Gen Z, telling Fortune, “These social touchpoints are more important than ever for young people.”
However, the honeymoon phase may not last forever. As Gen Z settles into office routines, their initial excitement may wane. Quag herself eventually left her office job to become a full-time content creator, citing a strict dress code as the final straw.
Despite potential challenges, the current trend suggests that Gen Z values the structure, social connections, and professional growth opportunities offered by traditional office environments.
As workplaces continue to evolve, finding a balance between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration may be key to attracting and retaining this generation of workers.
