Gen Z workers plagued by micro stress – from aggressive emails to dodgy WiFi

A section of Gen Z says they’re just one Slack message away from a meltdown as reports of young workers facing a barrage of micro stresses throughout their workday are on the rise.

From passive aggressive emails and dodgy WiFi, to pressure to have the camera on for video calls, Gen Z workers are facing a barrage of micro stresses throughout their workday.

New research has revealed 94% of young workers are plagued by petty irritations in the workplace, with 49% encountering them daily.

Alarmingly, 8% say they’re just one Slack message away from a meltdown while 12% have visualised throwing their laptop out of the window, according to the survey carried out by Extra.

Most hated micro stresses include WiFi failing (24%), last minute tasks that could wait (23%) and meetings that should have been an email (21%).

But it’s not all bad news, with 69% of Gen Z saying a chat with a local shopkeeper could genuinely lift their mood.

Inspired by these insights, Extra is launching ‘Boss Breaks’, a corner shop takeover turning local shops into mood lifting sanctuaries for young professionals to take a moment to pause and reset during the day.

The pop-ups are happening in London’s Shoreditch, Edinburgh, and Pontefract, where shopkeepers have been trained by life coach, Michelle Elman, to listen to their workday niggles put an end to their overthinking and help them get on with bossing their day.

Diptesh Patel of Diptesh Confectionery in London says: “Young people come into the shop all the time just needing a moment, to talk, to vent, or just feel heard. We’ve built real trust with them over the years.

“The ‘Boss Breaks’ corner shop takeover captures that everyday connection perfectly, it’s exactly what we see happening here.”

‘Boss Breaks’ corner shop takeovers will be open from September 12 to 18 in London and Pontefract, and from September 19 to 25 in Edinburgh.

Top 10 micro-stresses grinding the gears of young professionals

1. WiFi failing (24%)
2. Last-minute tasks that could wait (23%)
3. Meetings that should’ve been an email (21%)
4. Someone hovering while they work (20%)
5. Last-minute “quick” meeting invites (19%)
6. Receiving a ‘Karen’ email (18%)
7. Camera-on pressure during video calls (13%)
8. Forgetting co-worker names (12%)
9. Small talk on video meetings (11%)
10. Unhinged group chats (10%)

Box out:

Motivational coach Michelle Elman, shares her top tips for tackling micro-stress at work:

• Track your triggers – jot down what is bothering you, so that it does not consume your head
• Lean on your support network – whether it is a friend, a loved one or shopkeeper, don’t bottle it up if you are feeling overwhelmed
• Set clear boundaries – protect your downtime by logging off emails or turning off your phone when work ends
• Face your inner critic – take a moment to list your wins and remind yourself what makes you great!