Small talk, phone anxiety and more: Gen Z sounds off on office fears

"Gen Z is never beating the " unemployable " allegations. For Gen Z, a growing confidence crisis means common workplace interactions are now a major source of anxiety. Working with unfamiliar colleagues, making small talk, using the phone, and waking up early were among the biggest anxieties for young workers, according to new research from Trinity College London. ​These fears have also been echoed online."

""Can we talk about the fear of having to make a phone call in a dead silent office of cubicles," one TikTok creator recently posted. "When you finally finish sending that email that's been giving you anxiety and they respond with 'are you free for a quick call?'" another viral post reads. "The trick is to send this email a few minutes before you go home and then you have valid excuse for "not seeing" the response," one commenter suggested."

"In two national surveys of 1,538 people aged 16 to 29 across the U.K., 42% said they feel anxious about working with others, 38% find small talk anxiety-inducing, and 30% report phone anxiety. Notably, respondents were more worried about everyday office interactions than about their jobs becoming redundant because of AI. Presenting work (25%) and accepting criticism (22%) were also major concerns. "POV: you're presenting on a work call, but your anxiety thinks you're being hunted for sport," one TikTok creator summed it up."

Gen Z faces a growing confidence crisis that turns everyday workplace interactions into major sources of anxiety. Working with unfamiliar colleagues, making small talk, using the phone, and waking up early rank among top worries. National surveys of 1,538 people aged 16 to 29 in the U.K. report 42% anxious about working with others, 38% anxious about small talk, and 30% experiencing phone anxiety. Respondents report greater concern about routine office interactions than about job loss to AI. Presenting work (25%) and accepting criticism (22%) also cause significant stress, and social media posts echo these anxieties with relatable examples.

Read at Fast Company