Why do Gen Z workers and their bosses have trouble communicating?

Differences in how each generation learned to communicate at work. Many Gen Z workers started their first jobs or internships remotely during the pandemic, so they missed unwritten office etiquette. That can make habits like casual emails, texts instead of calls, and slang read as rude or unprofessional to older managers.

How common is the generational language gap at work?

In a Censuswide survey commissioned by Sunny Workplace, 80% of Gen Z workers said differences in language and communication style had been a challenge at work in the past month, versus 30% of Boomers. And 51% of Gen Z said it's a challenge "always" or "often," compared with 9% of Boomers.

Why do Gen Z workers skip greetings and punctuation in emails?

Michigan State sociolinguist Betsy Sneller told Fortune that younger workers "don't really have the genre of email in the way that older speakers do." Older workers often treat email as formal and permanent, while younger workers who grew up on social media and messaging apps may treat it like a long text.

How can managers communicate better with Gen Z employees?

Be a chameleon. Adapt to your younger direct reports' needs and frustrations instead of judging what you don't understand at first. Gen Z employees can help by asking when expectations aren't clear, such as whether a boss prefers a call or a text.

Is the communication gap only a Gen Z problem?

No. The gap goes both ways. Blake noted that the pandemic affected workers of all ages, and even she misjudged the right level of formality with her own students after moving a class online. The takeaway: every generation has to adapt, not just the youngest.

Gen Z Communication at Work: The Language Gap With Bosses

Girlboss The Monday Manual in collaboration with Upwork.

Victoria here, Girlboss’ executive editor. 👋

As a proud Zillennial (1996 babies, WYA?), I pride myself on toeing the millennial and Gen Z line. I still remember life before the internet, but I also like to think I’m fluent in TikTok jargon. I’m also turning 30 soon, so maybe I am aging myself. 😖 Anyway, I digress. Today's main story is all about why Gen Z and their bosses are having communication issues at work—and the generational language gap goes way deeper than slang. I unpack it all below. 👀

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Gen Z and Their Bosses Are Having Communication Issues

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