By – Jawahar Mishra
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Climbing the corporate ladder is no longer “cool”! There was a time when a high position, a cabin, and the title of manager were every young person’s dream, but now Gen Z has completely rejected this dream, calling it a “stressful hoax.” A shocking study reveals that 52% of young people are deliberately avoiding leadership and middle management responsibilities. Why? Because for them, success is no longer just about a hefty salary or a boss’s chair, but about “happiness, freedom, and peace.”
Gen Z has sent a clear message to the corporate world: you can’t take away mental peace with the lure of a promotion! This change isn’t just a job decision; it’s a quiet rebellion against the old work culture, where employees were simply considered “overworked machines.” It’s time for bosses to understand that this new generation will work smart, not overwork. Becoming a manager often means 24-hour on-call duty, a quagmire of office politics, and a double dose of stress. Gen Z youth want to stay away from this.
Surprising revelation in research
According to research by recruitment firm Robert Walters, young people are seeing that managers have a mountain of responsibility, but the salary increase is like peanuts compared to the stress. They believe that making life hell for such a small salary is wrong. They prefer to work in a place where they are allowed to prioritize creativity, flexibility, and mental health. This generation wants to break the old pattern of ‘boss’ and ’employee’ and create a culture where everyone works together.
The Meaning of Success Has Changed
Unlike older generations, success for Gen Z is no longer measured by a high position or promotion. They perceive the process of becoming a manager as restricting rather than a promotion. For them, the most important things in life are happiness, personal freedom, and time for their passions. This new definition keeps them away from stressful management roles.
The Burden of ’24-Hour Duty’ in India
In Indian work culture, managers are expected to answer calls and messages almost constantly. This means they have to be active 24-24 hours a day. Gen Z considers this a direct attack on work-life balance. They are clear about their personal boundaries and know how to say no. They don’t want a job where work becomes their entire life.
‘Peanuts’ Salary and the Double Stress Formula
Gen Z believes that today’s managers, like those of their previous generation, live under immense stress. Their salaries are nothing compared to the overwork. They work harder, yet their salaries aren’t significantly different from those of the younger generation. They believe that the formula of high stress and a small salary increase isn’t practical. They prioritize smart work and avoid unnecessary overwork.
The role of a manager often involves dealing with gossip, office politics, and internal team issues. Gen Z finds these things to be “drama” and a waste of time. They prefer a simple and transparent workspace based on honesty and open communication, rather than being caught up in the complex social equations that come with management.
The Importance of Creativity and Flexibility
The younger generation highly values flexibility and creativity. They want to determine their own way of working. Managerial roles often require them to follow a rigid framework of rules and deadlines, which limits their creativity. Therefore, they choose roles that offer them more freedom.
