Office etiquette, the Gen-Z way
Gen Z is changing the way we work, challenging the norms of hierarchy, hustle and even what ‘looking professional’ means
After completing graduation, Zerin joined a tech firm in Dhaka, and she was eager to prove herself. But within weeks, she found herself pulled into a quiet meeting with her manager.
It was not because of missed deadlines or poor performance, but because she had been talking too loudly during Zoom calls, leaving coffee cups on the meeting table, and once, apparently, wearing a hoodie with an anime logo to a client presentation.
"I wasn't trying to be unprofessional, but nobody told me these things weren't okay. I just thought it was okay as I was still getting the work done," she said.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
As Gen Z continues to enter the workforce, they are encountering unexpected obstacles like these.
Gen Z missed the traditional on-ramp into workplace culture. They've entered a world with rules they didn't get to observe growing up.
Gen Z workers are struggling to adjust to traditional workplace culture, and it is causing friction on both sides.
The workplace has always had its own set of invisible rules — like speaking softly, avoiding certain personal topics, or not bringing leftover fish curry to your desk.
Business etiquette coach Mariah Grumet argued in a podcast that it's not entirely their fault. Many Gen Z workers came of age during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their first jobs, internships, or university experiences were remote, and the blurring of home and work life affected their understanding of workplace norms.
They lived formative years online — communicating via memes, DMs, and video calls — which did not require them to master the subtle dynamics of physical office spaces.
"Gen Z missed the traditional on-ramp into workplace culture. They've entered a world with rules they didn't get to observe growing up," Grumet added.
She stated that even basic behaviours, like punctuality, reading body language, or knowing which topics are inappropriate at work, are not instinctive.
"When you are communicating with co-workers, you want to make sure that your body language is supporting your message and not creating a disconnect," she said.
She added that some topics — religion, politics and personal health — are best left outside the office. Yet Gen Z is often encouraged to express their full selves online, leading to them sometimes oversharing in professional spaces, leading to discomfort or even potential legal concerns.
In response, many companies are going for education rather than confrontation. Etiquette workshops, once reserved for executive teams or hospitality staff, are now being offered to entry-level hires.
These sessions help new workers navigate everything from polite email writing to how to ask supervisors for clarification without sounding combative. Even making eye contact — a simple act older generations may take for granted — is now a teachable skill.
These workshops are not just for appearances. Managers hope that addressing minor cultural misalignments early can prevent larger interpersonal issues down the road.
"Smoothing out these subtle social wrinkles may help everyone feel more comfortable — and that can boost productivity," according to Grumet.
Still, it would be a mistake to frame Gen Z as simply flawed or unprofessional. In many ways, they are redefining what it means to work.
They are, for instance, unapologetically committed to work-life balance. In contrast to older generations who quietly endured long hours, Gen Z often push back against what they see as unreasonable demands.
They are less likely to answer late-night emails or celebrate "grind culture". This stance directly challenges what researchers call the "infinite workday" — a trend where work bleeds into every corner of life.
Gen Z's discomfort with rigid hierarchies has also given rise to "unbossing" — an aversion to traditional top-down structures. While this may frustrate managers expecting deference, it reflects a broader demand for autonomy, psychological safety and more collaborative decision-making.
And then there is the dress code. Hoodies, oversized shirts, and dyed hair are becoming more common in offices, often introduced by Gen Z employees who see clothing as a form of self-expression.
Business suits, once a symbol of seriousness, are beginning to feel outdated. Some HR experts argue that revisiting dress codes could help foster inclusivity and comfort — especially if performance remains high.
Rather than viewing Gen Z's quirks as liabilities, companies might consider the opportunity for growth and adaptation.
Yes, etiquette matters. Offices still function best when there are shared understandings and clear expectations. But as workplaces become more diverse — generationally, culturally, digitally — it may be time for leaders to ask which rules are essential, and which ones are simply inherited.
It is a two-way street, after all.
Gen Z needs guidance on the invisible expectations of in-person work. But older generations may benefit from reassessing the traditions they have taken for granted.
