A new study by The Times revealed that only 10% of Generation Z employees (ages 18-27) are interested in working full-time in the office, and more than half admit they feel less industrious than older generations.
The study focused on the tech-savvy and pandemic-affected Gen Z, showing a clear preference for working from home. More than 20% of respondents report spending most or all their working hours at home, while just 40% adhere to a traditional five-day office week. Only 18% follow a hybrid work model, spending most of their time in the office.
Despite these statistics, Gen Zers’ desire to work from home even more remains strong. Around 24% of participants would prefer to work remotely most of the time, and 17% want to work from home full-time.
Dean Connelly, founder of public relations recruiter LATTE, attributes this shift to the pandemic, noting that Gen Z employees have mostly entered the workforce during or after this period and have known only remote or hybrid work environments. This expectation change has sparked significant resistance from younger workers when employers push for a return to more traditional office settings.
Tightening hybrid work policies
Large UK corporations like WPP, Lloyds, and Barclays have tightened their hybrid work policies since the beginning of the year. Lloyds, for instance, now ties bonuses to office attendance. At the same time, WPP faced a backlash when it introduced a four-day office week, leading to a petition from concerned employees that garnered over 20,000 signatures within a month.
Connelly also points out that one of the core reasons behind Gen Z’s reluctance to return to full-time office work is the shift from a culture of “presenteeism” to one focused on outcomes. Before the pandemic, office culture revolved around showing physical presence—working long hours, staying late, and minimising breaks.
Gen Z, however, is helping to drive a cultural shift, emphasising results and work efficiency over traditional office attendance.