An HR specialist’s LinkedIn post is going viral after she commended a Gen Z job applicant for declining a job opportunity that involved working on occasional Saturdays. Riya Dadhich, Firstsource’s Talent Acquisition Specialist, posted about a 25-year-old woman whose attitude toward a job stipulation left her highly impressed and defied common misconceptions about Gen Z employees.
Challenging Gen Z Stereotypes in the Workplace
Dadhich began by acknowledging a common complaint she hears in the corporate world: “Gen Z kids have no patience, no loyalty, no hunger.” But her interaction with the young woman shifted her perspective. When asked if she was open to working some Saturdays, the candidate declined the offer, saying, “I’m committed to delivering my best but I don’t want a career that burns me out by 30.”
At first, Dadhich confessed to feeling “irritated” by the reaction. But her feelings soon turned to admiration. She penned that the candidate was brave enough to say what most employees, particularly those belonging to the older generations, have felt long enough but never verbalized.
“She had the guts to say what many of us never could. We were taught to stay silent. To smile while working late. To see burnout as ambition and To say yes when we should’ve said no. And now?” she reflected.
A Call to Rethink Corporate Culture in Job
Her post ends with a message that has resonated with many professionals online. “Maybe the problem isn’t Gen Z. Maybe it’s the culture we survived and now subconsciously try to uphold. It made me tougher. No. It made us tired. They’re not the problem. They’re the correction,” she wrote.
Take a look at the post:
Viral Reactions Spark Larger Conversation about Job Functioning
The posting sparked a larger discussion about work-life balance, mental health, and redefinition of ambition at work.
One user commented, “Oof, this one hits harder than a Monday morning meeting invite! Love how you’ve put the ‘corporate cult’ under the microscope Gen Z isn’t here to sip the coffee, they’re here to stir the pot.”
Another shared a personal experience, saying, “This is so relatable. I was offered a similar job six days working, no weekend off. I didn’t take it forward to talk about the pay… Even though I want to be independent soon and start earning, I don’t want that at the expense of my mental health. I want a job that values work-life balance.”
