Many people from the older generation believe that Gen Z is weak because they experience burnout in their 20s. However, Raj Shamani disagrees.
The popular YouTuber counters that it’s not a character flaw. Rather, it is a rational response to systemic conditions. They are fundamentally different from what previous generations have endured.
Raj Shamani defines burnout clinically. It is a constant conflict between what workers expect and what the jobs actually require.
“Burnout is not about hard work. People have always worked hard. Burnout is about the gap between what you were promised and what you got, between what you put in and what you get back, between the story you’ve been told about how work works and the reality you live,” Shamani wrote on his blog.
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Raj Shamani also explains why many young people feel frustrated with today’s economy. Earlier generations believed that hard work would bring stability and success. Many have spent years climbing the career ladder before realizing, often in their 40s, that the promised security is precarious.
Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) faces this truth much earlier. Many follow the expected path of earning degrees and completing internships. Nevertheless, they enter the labor market, where it is more difficult to achieve stability.
You won’t have employees left to complain about
Housing costs make the problem clear. In 1985, houses cost about 3.5 times the median income. Today, prices are approximately 5 times higher than national prices, and even higher in major cities. Many young people are now dependent on side hustles because a single income often does not cover living expenses.
According to Raj Shamani, many Gen Z workers face strong prejudice in the workplace. According to him, more than 70% of managers already assume that Gen Z employees are problematic before even assessing their work. Because of this bias, many young workers try to compensate by working harder than necessary.
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Shamani then shared an example of a 26-year-old department head who shows a perfect work-life balance on social media. However, the youngster secretly answers emails at 2am. The pressure to prove themselves makes many young professionals feel like they have to constantly perform.
A break from work
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z rarely gets a proper break from work. This creates an “always on” culture where disconnecting from work is difficult.
“They spend 4.5 hours a day on social media. And what is so much on your phone: work is also on your phone,” Shamani wrote.
“The same device they use to release is the same device that pings them with Slack notifications, emails and ‘quick questions’ from their manager,” he added.
Wellness programs
Raj Shamani says many companies are trying to solve employee burnout with wellness programs. However, these efforts often fail.
Businesses spend billions of dollars on meditation apps, therapy sessions and mindfulness workshops. However, studies involving thousands of workers show that these programs rarely improve workplace conditions.
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According to Shamani, “wellness theater” only helps people tolerate stress instead of solving real problems.
“If you’re spending money on meditation programs instead of stress reduction, you’re not solving the problem,” Shamani wrote.
Structural reforms
The podcaster believes that real change requires structural reforms within organizations. Companies should communicate honestly about career growth.
Managers should be trained to avoid bias and limit unnecessary meetings and monitoring. Work cultures should also truly respect rest and personal time.
“The question has never been whether Gen Z is too soft. The question is: if the environment we’ve created is draining young people before they’ve even started, what are we going to do about it?” asked Raj Shamani.
“Because if you don’t find a fix before 30% of the workforce is burned out by recovering, you won’t have employees left to complain about,” he added.
