Take our Ambition Test

Find a career counselor near me

Gen Z's work absences often stem from "vibe" issues rather than clear reasons.

Many Gen Z workers face high stress, low resilience, and low confidence at work.

Managers should prioritize understanding Gen Z employees' mindsets and motivations.

I was recently speaking with a restaurant manager about the difficulties of working with younger employees. She began to tell me about one particular employee who was very bright and a good worker, but she couldn't always count on him to come in.

She liked him, but his absences posed a problem, and it wasn't clear to her what was causing them. She wondered: Might there be medical issues? Were there personal problems?

One day when it had become clear to the manager she couldn't continue this way with his erratic attendance, she decided to force the issue. Why hadn't he been able to come in yesterday, she asked—was he sick? No, he assured her, he was feeling fine. Was there some other serious situation in the background bothering him? He shook his head. Well,........

© Psychology Today