By Ephraim Agbo
From Wall Street to the UK High Streets, a silent but growing tension is surfacing—young workers, many of them Gen Z (aged 16–28), are being trained not in skills, but in behavior. Workshops on “how to write professional emails,” “how to make eye contact,” and even “why ghosting your manager isn’t okay” are becoming part of onboarding.
To older generations, this might seem necessary. To Gen Z? Often insulting. So what’s really going on?
🌐 The Global Picture: It’s Not Just an American Trend
- United States: At least 40% of HR departments in medium-to-large companies are incorporating soft skills and etiquette training specifically for Gen Z hires.
- United Kingdom: Nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z workers surveyed say they’ve had to go through “extra” workplace social training that older colleagues never faced.
- Japan: The etiquette is rigid, and training young hires on bowing, humility, and silence in meetings has been tradition for decades—but now, Gen Z pushback is growing.
- Nigeria & South Africa: Youth-dominated startups welcome Gen Z energy, but more traditional firms lament “attitude problems” and “phone addiction.” Respect for hierarchy is still a major cultural pillar.
- Germany & France: Unions are stepping in, questioning whether behavioral training is fair or just generational profiling.
- India: With over half of the population under 30, training for “email etiquette” and “professional dressing” has been repackaged as “career grooming.”
🧠 Why Gen Z Is Wired Differently
According to employment expert Kim Brooks:
“It’s not entitlement—it’s adaptation. Most Gen Z workers entered the workforce post-COVID. Their only idea of work was remote work, done in pajamas.”
And the stats agree:
- 74% of Gen Z employees started their careers during or after 2020.
- Over 60% say their primary mode of workplace communication is texting or DM, not email.
- 45% prefer asynchronous work rather than the traditional 9-to-5.
So… is that laziness? Or is that evolution?
🤔 The Clash of Cultures: “Boundaries” vs “Obedience”
This is where it gets controversial.
Older generations—Boomers and Gen X—often define professionalism as punctuality, formality, and deference. Gen Z? Not quite.
- They prize mental health, openly setting workplace boundaries.
- They refuse to answer emails at 10 PM, and label it self-respect—not rebellion.
- They want diversity, purpose, and flexibility, not just a paycheck.
To many employers, this looks like entitlement.
To Gen Z, it’s the bare minimum of modern decency.
🗣️ What Gen Z Workers Say:
“I work hard, but I also want space. Why is that so hard to get?”
“Older colleagues are funny—and surprisingly open-minded. But some do treat us like we’re fragile.”
“Just because I don’t do small talk doesn’t mean I’m rude.”
These are not lazy kids. They’re digital natives, used to TikTok attention spans and remote collaboration.
⚖️ So Who’s Right?
No one. And maybe… everyone.
It’s a generational fault line—caused by differences in tech, values, and lived experiences. But treating it like a discipline issue rather than a cultural shift is where things go wrong.
Mutual respect is key:
- Employers must learn to coach without condescension.
- Gen Z must learn that boundaries don’t mean avoiding accountability.
💡 Final Thought: Is Etiquette Training the Cure or a Symptom?
Maybe it’s not about etiquette, but expectation mismatch. Instead of trying to fix Gen Z, maybe companies should reimagine what professionalism means in the 21st century.
Because if “being professional” still means showing up early, wearing stiff suits, and suffering silently… well, Gen Z might not be wrong for rejecting it.
📊 Quick Takeaways:
- Gen Z is the most educated, most digital-savvy, and most mental-health-aware generation to date.
- Behavior training is trending across the U.S., UK, Asia, and Africa—but not without pushback.
- Global companies must move from generational stereotyping to empathetic onboarding.
- The future of work isn’t fixed—it’s a negotiation.
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