10/21/2025

‘It's PR, Not the ER:' Gen Z Is Resisting the Workplace Emergency

As the workforce evolves, younger generations are rejecting the frenetic approach to work

When Lauryn Jiles, 26, entered the workforce in 2022, every time colleagues treated something like an emergency, she followed suit. Jiles, who has worked as a commerce writer and in social media management, described how projects would be lined up, only to pivot last-minute; in another role, corporate layoffs caused her workload to double.

"I started developing a stress rash on my skin," said Jiles, who is based in South Carolina. "That's when I was like, yeah, I'm not going to do this anymore."

For much of Gen Z, chaos in their working lives is as routine as the after-hours Slack ping so recognizable you hear it in your dreams. Some entered the workforce around the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when many young workers struggled to find employment, and navigated workplace shifts that proved short-lived for many. Commentary decrying the perils of "quiet quitting" feels disconnected from the reality of high costs of living and stagnant wages. Meanwhile, a bleak labor market and lack of entry-level jobs impacts how people enter the workforce.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.