Millennials take the reins as majority of managers amid burnout surge
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Millennials have officially overtaken Generation X as the dominant managerial cohort in the U.S. workforce, according to Glassdoor’s semiannual Worklife Trends report.
While this generational shift reflects aging demographics and the retirements of baby boomers, it also ushers in new leadership dynamics—and new challenges—for organizations worldwide.
Millennials overtake Gen X as leading managers
Glassdoor’s report finds that, as of late June 2025, millennials represent the largest share of U.S. managers, with Gen Z already comprising one in ten and projected to eclipse baby boomers by 2026.
“Workers by and large don’t feel like they’re in a great situation,” Glassdoor chief economist Daniel Zhao told Fortune, but “at the very least it doesn’t seem that workers are feeling worse.”
Zhao emphasized that today’s managers inherited a workforce grappling with successive waves of layoffs and understaffing, describing burnout as an “ongoing crisis.”
Burnout and boundary challenges loom
Despite millennials’ reputation for prioritizing empathy and well-being—championing remote work, mental health benefits, and boundary-setting—they are reporting record levels of stress.
Glassdoor reviews referencing “burnout” jumped 73% year-over-year through May 2025, “often refer[ring] to the cumulative effect of several years of layoffs and understaffing wearing on employees who remain,” Zhao noted.
Many front-line managers lack formal leadership training, leaving them ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of multi-generational teams and rapid organizational change.
The ‘cool boss’ conundrum
The emotional-intelligence trend has a flipside: blurred lines between friendship and authority. Millennials face criticism as “cool bosses” who struggle to code-switch from buddy to disciplinarian. Anecdotes on social media dub them “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” alleging that “the cool boss dropping the mask can come as a shock to their subordinates.”
Many admit difficulty “setting clear boundaries with their teams,” as they juggle both career pressures and “sandwich generation” responsibilities—caring for both children and aging parents. “In a sense, they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Zhao said.
Raising the bar on management
Glassdoor’s data shows that employee expectations have risen: mentions of “respecting boundaries,” “being empathetic,” and “promoting employee wellbeing” are increasingly common in management reviews.
Yet, a Deloitte survey indicates that even millennial managers themselves seek more feedback, mentorship, and growth opportunities—both for their teams and their own development.
As millennials assume leadership en masse, organizations must invest in robust training and support systems. Without them, the “manager crash” predicted for 2025 could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, undermining both employee well-being and business performance.
