8 Reasons Why Generation Z Are Often Fired and Have Difficulty Keeping Their Jobs

While the youngest Gen Zers are attending secondary school, older members are graduating from college and finding their first jobs—or not finding a job at all, as Gen Zers are frequently fired and struggle to keep a job.

Accordingly Data reported by Intelligent.com60% of employers laid off Generation Z employees last year. Generation Z is often criticized as a generation lacking motivation. But what is perceived as a lack of ambition may actually be a self-protective measure.

Generation Z is hesitant to commit themselves to a corporate system that offers them little security. The underlying reasons why Gen Zers are getting fired and struggling to keep a job have less to do with their work ethic and more to do with their mindset towards corporate culture.

Here are 8 reasons why Gen Zers are often fired and struggle to keep their jobs

1. Economic uncertainty

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Generation Z grew up in a period dominated by economic and political uncertainties. Like Pew Research Center reportedGeneration Z was ready to step into a strong economy with record low unemployment rates, and then the whole world changed. The onset of a worldwide pandemic has completely transformed the social, political and economic landscape, making Generation Z a generation on the brink of great uncertainty.

Generation Z has been hit hard by the economic instability caused by the epidemic. 2020 survey from Pew Research Center It was revealed that half of the oldest members of Generation Z, aged 18 to 23, reported that they or someone in their household had lost their job or taken a pay cut due to Covid-19.

Four years later, Generation Z is still feeling the consequences of this acute economic instability. The job market has changed rapidly, and Generation Z is doing their best to keep up. Promises of job security do not hold up as well as they did for past generations, especially Boomers. many postponed their retirementleaving little room for younger generations to climb the corporate ladder.

During Boomers complain Gen Z doesn’t want to workThe economic reality they inherited put them at a serious disadvantage; This is one of the reasons why Gen Zers are frequently fired and struggle to keep their jobs.

2. High expectations for flexibility in the workplace

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Unlike Millennials before them, who extolled the hustle culture but faced deep regret and a desire to move down the corporate ladder, Generation Z places great emphasis on work flexibility. They want real work-life balance, not empty promises. They’re looking for true balanceand they won’t settle for less than what they deserve.

In addition to expectations of flexible working hours and remote working conditions, they are looking for ways to create lives that do not put work at the center. They don’t base their identity or self-worth on their work, which is a healthy mindset to have. Generation Z places a higher priority on finding personal fulfillment outside of work than previous generations.

Like Generation Z career expert Morgan Sanner explained:“A job search should not also be a search for purpose. While looking for a job, you should not also try to find your identity.” The search for flexibility often means Gen Zers struggle to hold down a job, but this is not a reflection on their work ethic. Rather, it shows that young people’s priorities have changed and It is the companies’ responsibility to adjust accordingly.

3. Seeking a more dynamic environment than what is offered

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Another reason why Gen Zers are getting fired and struggling to keep their jobs is because they are looking for a more dynamic work environment than what is offered to them. Along with a desire to work in remote jobs, Generation Z also wants to be challenged in a way that most jobs cannot or will not provide.

A. Current Psychology’s 2022 study analyzed He examined the differences in values and attitudes between Generation X and Generation Z and found that Generation The study also revealed that Generation Z places high value on innovation and change rather than maintaining the status quo.

These qualities do not fit neatly into traditional corporate culture; This means that Generation Z is having difficulty finding a job that suits their wishes. The business world could not keep up with Generation Z Why they get fired so often and have trouble keeping a job.

4. Asking for work that aligns with your values

coworkers in a meeting Jacob Lund | Shutterstock

Generation Z wants jobs that align with their values, which means they won’t hesitate to leave jobs that don’t satisfy them. Accordingly Deloitte’s 2024 Generation Z and Generation Y Survey86% of Gen Zers say having a sense of purpose is important to their well-being and job satisfaction. The research found that Generation Z is “increasingly willing” to reject employers whose values do not align with their perspectives.

Additionally, 75% of Gen Zers reported that they consider a company’s social impact and level of community involvement when looking for a job. Environmental concerns are particularly high on the list of things Generation Z considers during their job search. Meanwhile, 62% of Gen Zers said they felt anxious and worried about climate change in the month of the survey. Two in 10 Gen Zers have changed jobs or industries to find work that aligns with their environmental values.

It may seem like Gen Zers often get fired or struggle to keep a job because they don’t care about their jobs, but in reality, they care so much they just want their jobs to match their political and social priorities.

5. Challenging traditional hierarchies

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Gen Zers are often fired and struggle to keep their jobs because they struggle to adapt to workplaces with traditional hierarchies. They tend to become frustrated with the way companies operate. Generation Z doesn’t tie their personal identity to their work, which means they often disagree with older colleagues who want them to. access workplace status icons.

Part of wanting flexibility at work means a desire to move away from rigid decision-making processes and formal displays of professionalism to a more relaxed atmosphere. This incompatibility in Generation Z’s approach to work manifests itself in different ways compared to older generations; for example, Generation Z doesn’t mind being 10 minutes late for workBoomers, on the other hand, really do.

Generation Z’s attitude towards work is breaking traditional patterns. While implementing change is not always a smooth process, it is necessary.

6. Prioritizing mental health over work

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Gen Z’s mental health struggles have been well documented. Aspect 2022 comparative analysis reportedEven before the pandemic began, Generation Z showed higher rates of depression and anxiety than other generations. Their need for emotional support is generally greater than what jobs provide.

Generation Z prioritizes mental health more than other generations; This is why they avoid stressful or toxic workplaces. Their focus on mental health means they will leave a job that does not provide them with adequate support.

While many companies put on a false pretense of meeting the mental health needs of their employees, when it comes down to it, they still put profits before people. Gen Zers are often fired and struggle to keep their jobs because they know their mental health is more important than anything else.

7. Having a cultural perspective that conflicts with outdated workplace norms

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Generation Z’s worldview and cultural perspective often clash with outdated workplace policies. As the Pew Research Center noted in its 2020 article “The Peak of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future,” Generation Z is at the “leading edge” of America’s changing racial and ethnic makeup: 52% of Generation Z is non-Hispanic white. and one-quarter are Hispanic; 14% of Generation Z is black, 6% is Asian, and 5% is another race or two or more races.

As of 2020, Gen Zers were more likely to be enrolled in college and have a college-educated parent than Gen Xers or Millennials at the same point in their lives. Having a higher level of education makes you more open-minded, which Generation Z certainly is.

Generation Z highly values progressive values and policies that are truly inclusive. Them will not stay in workplaces that do not center equality and diversityThat’s why they are often fired or leave of their own volition.

8. Low tolerance for unfair treatment

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Aside from their belief in true inclusion, diversity, and equity, Gen Zers have a low threshold for being treated unfairly, which is why they are often fired and struggle to keep a job. They know their value. They know there is no benefit in staying at a company that doesn’t value them.

Although past generations have remained silent, Generation Z is more likely to remain silent. raise your voice and demand respect. Whether it’s fighting discrimination or unfair wages and labor policies, Gen Z won’t stay in a place where they’re not valued, which is why they often struggle to hold down a job.

Alexandra Blogier is a writer in YourTango’s news and entertainment team. It covers social issues, pop culture analysis, and everything related to the entertainment industry.