Aussie workers reveal the bizarre - and frustrating - office habits of Gen Z… and their favourite four letter word getting under everyone's skin

By ELIZA MCPHEE, ASSISTANT EDITOR, AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

Aussies have shared the bizarre and weird work habits of their Gen Z colleagues and the infuriating four letter word they like to bandy around the office - 'slay'. 

Workers were asked to share some of the most shocking things they'd seen their younger colleagues do on the popular Instagram account The Aussie Corporate.

Vaping at desks, logging off early to go for a swim, and answering Zoom calls from a spa are some of the unbelievable acts Gen Z workers - those born between 1997 and 2012 - are trying to get away with.

A common complaint was about the younger generation constantly praising a colleague's efforts by saying 'slay'. 

Aussie workers have revealed the most frustrating habits from their Gen Z colleagues - with one saying they noticed a young worker vaping at their desk (stock image)

Aussie workers have revealed the most frustrating habits from their Gen Z colleagues - with one saying they noticed a young worker vaping at their desk (stock image)

One worker said their Gen Z co-worker asked to leave early so she could go for a swim

One worker said their Gen Z co-worker asked to leave early so she could go for a swim

One frustrated worker recalled: 'Our (paid) intern routinely rocks up at 10.30 (we start at 8.30). We called her once to see if she was coming to a meeting but she was shopping with her mum. Also sighs. Loudly. When asked to do absolutely anything.'

Added another: 'My partner had one of her juniors ask the managing director on a Zoom if this call was going to take long because she wanted to go for a swim... at 2pm on a Friday.

'We had a Gen Z intern walk straight up to a partner on day three of a four-week internship and offer him a 'dart break to get away from these squares',' one worker said.

While some admitted they were impressed at how confident Gen Z workers were, others said their younger colleagues didn't last long in their offices due to their tendency to flit around between tasks. 

Etiquette on video meetings was another major issue with younger employees.

Some vaped during meetings, one woman answered a call with a towel around her head and one man even appeared on screen in a bathrobe.

Another Gen Z worker said he was too hungover to come into the office but proceeded with the morning catch up meeting while brushing his teeth, eating breakfast and ironing his clothes.

Vaping at desks, logging off early to go for a swim (stock image), and answering Zoom calls from a spa are some of the unbelievable acts Gen Z workers are trying to get away with

Vaping at desks, logging off early to go for a swim (stock image), and answering Zoom calls from a spa are some of the unbelievable acts Gen Z workers are trying to get away with

'Our (paid) intern routinely rocks up at 10.30 (we start at 8.30). We called her once to see if she was coming to a meeting but she was shopping with her mum. Also sighs. Loudly. When asked to do absolutely anything,' one person shared on Instagram (stock image)

'Our (paid) intern routinely rocks up at 10.30 (we start at 8.30). We called her once to see if she was coming to a meeting but she was shopping with her mum. Also sighs. Loudly. When asked to do absolutely anything,' one person shared on Instagram (stock image)

Shockingly, one man accidentally switched his camera on during a Zoom to reveal he was lounging around in a hot tub. 

Many also claimed their Gen Z co-workers were constantly asking to leave early or were requesting a shorter work week.

'Our intern asked to leave at 11.30 on Friday because he had lunch with his girlfriend. He then declined a 9.30am meeting because it was "too early",' one worker said.

'Had a Gen Z clerk crack open a cider at his desk on midday on a Thursday. When confronted he said ''it's just one standard and I'm on my break''. We had given him an urgent brief,' another said.

'I had a Gen Z say they couldn't come into the office for a team day because they had too much to do,' one worker said.

'When I asked what so I could help prioritise they said washing, seeing their friend for lunch, facial, gym and an online order arriving.'

One man didn't return to work as expected at the start of the year because he wanted to extend his trip in Asia. 

One thing many agreed on was the overuse of the word 'slay', typically used by Gen Zs to refer to something that is good or impressive.

Many said their younger colleagues were replying to senior executives telling them they were 'slaying' or just simply 'slayyy'.

One thing many agreed on was the overuse of the word 'slay', typically used by Gen Zs to refer to something that is good or impressive

One thing many agreed on was the overuse of the word 'slay', typically used by Gen Zs to refer to something that is good or impressive

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