‘It would be trite to say that young people are lazy,’ says expert, as Gen Z worries about work future
While many younger employees may look busy, with cluttered desks and keyboards clicking — this display of dedication may be part of a rising workplace behaviour dubbed "task masking.”
Popular among Gen Z employees, task masking refers to appearing intensely engaged at work while accomplishing little, according to Srinidhi Balakrishnan, Commissioning Editor at the Financial Times. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, influencers are sharing tactics to simulate productivity — from perpetually walking around with a laptop to rapidly toggling between browser tabs when someone walks by.
While the practice might resemble traditional slacking, its roots lie in anxiety, not apathy. According to Amanda Edelman, COO of Edelman’s Gen Z Lab, “Gen Zers are talking among themselves about how to ensure they are a, being as productive as possible, and b, seeming as productive as possible, so that they’re not laid off or replaced by AI.”
This insight, says Balakrishnan, reveals that task masking is less about shirking work and more about job insecurity.
Data from Edelman’s Gen Z Lab underscores this: 37% of Gen Z employees worry about job loss — the highest of any age group — and 60% lack confidence in securing a strong role in the current climate. The Financial Times opinion piece highlights how this nervous energy manifests as a hyper-awareness of optics rather than actual results.
David Wreford, a partner at Mercer, cautions against misreading these behaviours. “It would be trite to say that young people are lazy,” he says. “We need to think about the extent to which there has been a breakdown in the contract between young people today and the promise of work.”
This disillusionment is echoed by influencer Gabrielle Judge, whose “anti-work” content has drawn over 500,000 followers, according to the opinion piece.
“Baby Boomers gained the most out of corporate America. It was a meritocracy,” Judge explains. “Our parents, Gen X, were just demolished by things… Gen Z folks are like, well, I know that this work stuff won’t take care of me.”
So how should employers respond? Balakrishnan suggests the solution lies not in monitoring keystrokes, but in rethinking workplace expectations.
Caitlin Duffy of Gartner emphasizes the importance of open dialogue: “Establishing working norms requires an ongoing conversation between management, leadership and employees,” she notes.
This includes not only frank performance discussions but also more deliberate recognition of employee contributions. “One thing managers can do is recognise employees’ contributions and capabilities more intentionally … especially now with this push for productivity,” says Duffy.
So, the next time you notice your younger colleague “swept up in a flurry of furious typing,” says Balakrishnan, ask them how they are managing the tasks they’ve been set “or just reassure them their contribution is valued.”
