A recent survey reveals that many young professionals are challenging traditional expectations around workplace behavior.
A survey of 1,200 full-time Gen Z workers by professional resume templates platform ResumeTemplates.com found that about one in three (32%) say they have yelled at their boss, and half say they regularly talk negatively about their manager to co-workers.
While some older generations may view these actions as inappropriate, two-thirds of Gen Zers believe expectations around professionalism are excessive, according to the survey.
Those who admit to yelling at their boss say it happened during a stressful work situation (59%), while others lost their temper over workload or expectations (48%) or after feeling offended (45%). A smaller group of Gen Zers admitted to yelling after receiving criticism (22%), over differing political or social views (9%), or during a performance review (8%).
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“Gen Z is one of the most emotionally aware generations, and they’re not afraid to show it,” Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at ResumeTemplates.com, said in a statement. “For a lot of older workers, that’s hard to understand. But Gen Z has seen people get laid off or fired even when doing great work, so they don’t see silence as protection.”
According to the survey, exactly half of Gen Z workers say they’ve spoken negatively about their boss to co-workers, and one in 10 have posted something negative online.
Others admit to more personal dynamics: 7% say they’ve flirted with a manager. Among those who flirted, most say they found their boss attractive (72%), while others say they did it “just because” (38%) or to get something they wanted (18%).
Toothacre cautions that while openness can foster connection, it can also carry risks.
“Gossip or oversharing can backfire. Knowing the difference between healthy venting and behavior that undermines your professional image is key,” she said.
While 45% of Gen Z workers say they value professionalism, a larger share (56%) believe it should leave room for personality—or view it as overrated altogether. Sixty-six percent say older generations expect too much professionalism from them.
“Gen Z doesn’t need to suppress who they are,” Toothacre said. “But learning to read the room and adjust accordingly is what builds long-term credibility.”
Methodology: The survey was conducted by ResumeTemplates.com via the Pollfish platform in October 2025. It includes responses from 1,200 full-time Gen Z workers in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 28.
Photo credit: KTStock/iStock
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Tags: bosses, employees, gen z, Gen Z employees, managers, Payroll, professionalism, workers
