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Woman in First Job Asks How People Deal with Office Culture

Harry December 1, 2024

Many Gen Zers have expressed disapproval of some aspects of traditional corporate culture, from 9-to-5 workdays to work-appropriate attire.

One woman at the tail end of Generation Z admitted that she, too, had a hard time adjusting to her “first 40 hours of a ‘normal’ full-time job.” He questioned how others were coping with the stress and fatigue of being in the workforce.

At his first 9-to-5 job, the 26-year-old asked how people ‘cope’ with office culture.

“I can’t understand the office culture of sitting here 8 hours a day with nothing to do,” he began. Reddit post. “Sitting here showing my face feels like a waste of time.”

Woman bored at work Dean Drobot | Shutterstock

While he says some days are busier than others, most of the time, spends his days sitting at his desk twiddling his thumbs until the end of his shift.

“I’m usually just sitting in front of my computer playing video games or watching YouTube, and it’s maddening,” he admitted.

The woman said she struggled with the monotony of the workday.

He questioned how others were coping with the office culture environment and claimed that the same thing had been happening for months and it was getting tiring. “I don’t know how to keep up with it in a way that doesn’t consume me,” she added.

Even though the people in his office are “nice and friendly,” he struggles to feel motivated to participate in the office culture or “invest” in the people around him.

“There’s also such an age disparity among my coworkers that I don’t hang out with these people outside of work or form really lasting bonds with them that would be beneficial to my ‘real’ life, so I’m kind of at a loss,” he concluded.

“Strange and a little lonely.”

This sentiment is shared by many Gen Zers in the workforce.

Data from LinkedIn, Shared with BBC WorklifeIt showed that young workers do not feel equipped for the workplace.

They found that 18 to 25 year olds were the least confident of all generations in their current job or role. Only 43% of Gen Zers feel extremely confident and perfectly capable in all aspects of their role, compared to 59% of Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers.

Generation Z woman feels uncomfortable at work YEAST LABORATORY | Shutterstock

In addition to feeling unprepared, many Gen Zers, like this Reddit user, are unhappy at work because a 9-to-5 job no longer provides the same benefits and financial stability it did for past generations.

A lot will never be able to afford a house It makes them feel unmotivated and discouraged because of the salaries they receive in office jobs.

It’s easy to fall into the nihilistic mindset that the world is falling apart and work is pointless.

That’s why people are encouraged to use their PTO, take a few days out of the office, and realize that work doesn’t have to take up every part of your brain.

Taking care of yourself should always be a top priority, especially if you want to avoid burnout.

Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and journalism, covering news and lifestyle topics with a focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.