‘I am losing my aura’: Gen Z employee struggles to survive 9-hour shifts, strict lunch breaks and rude managers

Gen Z employees work differently than millennials. Social media discussions and confessions have time and again revealed that Gen Z employees prioritise strong boundaries, transparency and mental well-being over traditional workplace rules. Unlike millennials, who tend to glorify hustle culture and burnout, Gen Z typically put themselves first, viewing work through a pragmatic lens. Recently, an X user, Sheetal, shared the story of her Gen Z cousin who came face-to-face with the harsh realities of the corporate world, resulting in a hilarious but relatable reaction.

Gen Z employee’s phone call to sister

Sheetal, in her post, revealed that her Gen Z cousin got her first job at a company, ‘completely unaware of how office life works.’ Soon after joining, she called Sheetal one day, expressing her grievances about the organisation.

The Gen Z employee complained that her company has a fixed lunch time of 45 minutes, and she is forced to eat her meals during that time only. ‘What if I get hungry earlier? She asked angrily to her sister.

Gen Z employee complains about work

Apart from that, the Gen Z employee noted that she has only 3 paid leaves every month and is not allowed to be late for more than 10 minutes, raising objections to the strict punctuality regardless of the circumstances.

The Gen Z employee further pointed out that she has to work the whole day for 9 hours straight, leaving her with little time to relax or take a breather during the day. On top of that, she also has to deal with her manager, who once spoke to her rudely, she disclosed.

Gen Z employee’s work rant

When Sheetal wanted to know what the manager said, her Gen Z cousin revealed that her manager had advised her to seek help immediately whenever she was unsure about a task but stressed that she must avoid errors at all costs.

After the rant, the Gen Z employee admitted that she was barely surviving at work, stating that she is losing her aura by working at the company while her mental health is also getting ‘cooked’. I’m gonna end up with dark circles. I didn't sign up for this,’ were her last words, and Sheetal couldn’t help but laugh at her cousin’s dramatic yet humorous reaction to the common workplace woes.