A social media post about an incident involving a young Gen Z employee who refused to remain at the office after work hours sparked a digital inferno. Backers hailed the move as a stance for healthy boundaries. For months, critics have derided it as a failure to commit. Something more than an office argument arose — a generational clash over the very definition of work.
Well Gen Z is, as we all know, the generation that loves technology but also keeps musical acts from endorsing politicians; they see work as a third of their lives, not the whole thing. The long-arm influence of “hustle culture”—the idea that the key to success is working long hours and putting in extra effort—has affected many millennials, especially those who entered the workforce during or at the time of the 2008 financial crisis.
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Gen Z: Setting Boundaries Is a Sign of Strength
Gen Z employees have very different expectations and for many of them, working late now is not a rebellion but rather a balancing act. “Sure, I want to put in a good day at work while I’m there, but my life does not revolve around my job,” says 24-year-old marketing associate Rhea S., who acknowledges that she gets called “entitled” all the time for clocking out promptly at 5 p.m. on the dot.
They believe mental health, relationships, and hobbies should be respected as much as work. While digital tools often mean work spills over into evenings and weekends, Generation Z is fighting back, reminding you that meaningful productivity must come with intentional rest.
And a handful even regard this paradigm as an upgrade over its predecessors. “But what is the point of working all these extra hours if I am going to burn out at 30?” Raj, a 26-year-old software engineer asks. Well, to be fair, that was a little annoying, because I have found consistency to be attained sustainably with energy and creativity, but non-stop stirring consistent energy while being fresh begets creativity but strip away energy and creativity and you have the empty pot.
Millennials: Inheritors of the Hustle
In contrast, most Millennials find it hard to relate to the Gen Z way of life. Millennials entering the workforce during leaner economic times struggled with the need to “earn their place” with overtime and extra assignments. Neha P, a 35-year-old project manager, recalls always staying back at the office not by choice, but because that was perceived as the way to get noticed. “Not that I am a fanof hustle culture, but if I had not made those sacrifices in early days, I doubt I would be where I am today (in career),” she says.
Leaving at the exact end of the shift is seen by millennials as lacking ambition. Career advancement and stability, and income, too, were hard earned for them, and the notion of setting boundaries can feel like a privilege out of reach. However, some openly state that they envy the confident tone of Gen Z — “no”.
The Science of Saying ‘Enough’
If going beyond generational philosophy, medical professionals are slowly favouring balance over extremes.
“As a neurologist, I see in my everyday practice how chronic overwork and lack of rest affect the brain of patients. Prolonged stress raises cortisol levels and disrupts sleep cycles. It can impair memory, focus, and decision-making. Over time, it increases the risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and even cardiovascular disease. The brain needs downtime to consolidate memories, regulate emotions, and maintain cognitive health. Setting boundaries around work isn’t laziness at all. It is actually a scientifically proven way to protect one’s mental and neurological well-being. This young woman’s choice reflects a growing awareness that sustainable productivity comes from balance, not burnout.” — Dr Kunal Bahrani, Clinical Director & HOD – Neurology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad
Finding the Middle Ground
What’s interesting is that some Millennials are starting to adopt aspects of the Gen Z way of doing things. For almost everyone, the pandemic erased the distinction between work and life and remote work made overextending effortless. Most of the professionals a decade or so into their principal-investor careers now state they wish they had established a firmer boundary much earlier.
A Shift in Workplace Culture.
Companies are taking notice. Flexible hours, mental health days and mandated no email after hours policies are increasingly common—not from benevolence, but as a tactic to bolster retention and performance.
Still, cultural change is uneven. While some organizations remain stuck in the historical badge-of-honor mentality around long hours, others actively encourage employees to log off at a reasonable hour. These differences create tension—however, when they work together in a workplace, it also sparks healthy conversations.
The Solution
The now-famous post was ostensibly about one employee, but it struck a nerve: the employee of the future is starting to question all he or she has ever known about time, health, and success.
Instead of rejecting hard work, Gen Z are redefining hard work by demanding boundaries. The discipline millennials built through hustling isn’t outdated; it simply speaks to the economic context in which they were forged.
Maybe the way to go is a mix of both: the commitment to perform, balanced with the knowledge to break- organize. The brain and the body are not meant to be in a constant state of work, as noted by Dr. Bahrani. Balance might, however, turn out to be the most ambitious of all targets in the long-term.
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