A major new survey has revealed that nearly half of Britain’s youngest office workers have been reduced to tears by workplace stress. The research, commissioned by workforce engagement platform Kahoot! and carried out by OnePoll, questioned 2,000 UK office workers aged 21 to 25 who recently graduated from university.
The findings show that 47 per cent of Gen Z professionals have cried due to work pressure, while 39 per cent have seriously considered quitting within their first year in a corporate job. Generational tensions emerged as a key issue, with 44 per cent saying they had been criticised by older colleagues because of stereotypes linked to their age.
Among those criticised, 47 per cent said they were judged for being “too passionate” or outspoken, 46 per cent for using informal language or humour, 44 per cent for setting healthy boundaries, and 42 per cent for their clothing or appearance. Despite being digitally native, almost a quarter (24 per cent) felt their opinions were not taken seriously.
The study also found that 68 per cent of young workers had felt out of their depth, and 30 per cent had received no praise or acknowledgment in the past week. However, 57 per cent said they had taught their manager how to complete a basic digital task, highlighting a trend of “reverse mentoring”.
Jon Neale, growth director for the UK and Ireland at Kahoot!, said the research should serve as a wake-up call for businesses. He warned: “The cost of doing nothing will be high – not just in retention, but in innovation, culture and competitiveness.”
