Gen z haven't had an easy ride when it comes to the world of work. They graduated in the post-pandemic job market, when teams had been reduced to skeleton staff and awkward video meetings were the only way to get to know your colleagues. They’ve been stereotyped as lazy, entitled, without attention span nor ambition, and this year, JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon said they simply ‘don’t want to show up’ to the office for work.
But new research suggests the opposite to Dimon’s theory. According to Bupa’s survey of 8,000 adults, four in 10 16-to-24-year-olds said that they feel lonely or socially isolated because of their work situation. More than 45% of Gen Z respondents said they were looking for jobs that provided more social interaction, aka office working, compared to 27% of workers in all age groups.
Vivien, 25, did just that. She used to work from home four days a week, but quit to find somewhere with less remote hours. ‘I was miserable and so envious of my house- mates who came home with funny office anecdotes,’ she tells Grazia. ‘Even lunch breaks felt isolating. I’d close my laptop, maybe put on some washing, nip to the shops and then mooch around until it was time to open the laptop again. Without plans after work, the days just blurred to- gether. Now I look forward to going in [to the office at my new job]. My motivation has increased, and I’ve got several colleagues I consider as some of my closest friends.’
This is born out in data from LinkedIn. ‘Globally, Gen-Z are the least likely to apply for remote roles (28% of applications come from Gen-Z, compared to 50% from Gen X),’ says the platform’s Charlotte Davies. 'In an increasingly digitalised world, it’s no surprise that younger workers are feeling isolated while working from home.’
But it’s not just Gen Z – the loneliness epidemic seems to be driving a quiet desire for office interactions for Millennials and Boomers, too. One recent survey showed 80% of UK workers feel that working from home has negatively impacted their mental health. ‘I developed depression when I was fully remote,’ says Lucy, 35. ‘I was initially excited by the freedom of working from home full time, especially as I have a pet, but over time it was so lonely and demoralising. All of my colleagues who were office-based grew closer, while I stayed stagnant – I felt like it was affecting my progression there too, because I didn’t have a personal relationship with my boss or the chance to show seniors what I could do in person. Now I have a job with a few days a week in the office, and it’s ideal.’
Jess Baker, psychologist and author of The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People, has advice for anyone struggling with loneliness as a result of remote work. The key, she says, is naming the problem and being proactive about next steps. ‘It’s not just thinking “I’m lonely” but naming: “I miss spontaneous connection” or “I want to feel part of something”’, she explains. ‘Take ownership and ask for more regular check-ins or shared project time. Build in micro-rituals like five-minute voice note check-ins with colleagues, and try to find mentors, post- work societies or volunteer opportunities in your company.’
If all else fails, you can always keep an eye out for jobs at JP Morgan....
Alice Hall is the Staff Writer at Grazia UK. She was previously a Junior Features Writer for The Daily Telegraph. At Grazia, she writes news and features about pop culture, dating, health, politics and interiors.