Gen Z often gets labeled as lazy. We’re glued to screens and allergic to hard work. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re redefining what commitment and hustle look like in today’s workforce.
Since joining the workforce in 2021, I’ve rarely taken a real lunch break. For me, and most of my Gen Z peers, lunch usually means inhaling food between meetings. The numbers don’t lie: nearly half of Gen Zers skip lunch at least twice a week, even though we know the benefits of a real break. We’re also four times more likely than boomers to feel guilty about taking that time. For context, only 18% of boomers skip lunch that often, with Millennials and Gen X falling somewhere in between.
So why do we keep skipping lunch?
It’s not that we don’t recognize how important it is (or want to). We know that taking a break boosts productivity and clears your mind. But lunch is just one part of the bigger picture. Back-to-back meetings, relentless deadlines, and the pressure to power through make stepping away tough. For those of us who started our careers during the remote work era, eating lunch at the desk became second nature, and breaking that habit is harder than it sounds.
Before the pandemic, stepping out for lunch was more common, even for a quick break. For many who started their careers during the pandemic, the workday turned into an endless loop of video calls, emails, and Slack pings—all from the same Ikea chair shoved in the corner of your bedroom. Lunch became something squeezed in between tasks, not a time to reset. This “work through lunch” mindset stuck, even as we transitioned back to the office.
Employers need to make real changes.
It’s awkward for someone junior to take a break when they see a VP or senior leader skipping lunch entirely. Sure, you’re told you can take that hour, but can you really? Actions speak louder than words. If leadership doesn’t model the behavior, it sets an unspoken rule that makes taking a break feel risky.
In many industries, especially startups and fast-paced environments, dedicated break times are practically non-existent. The grindset doesn’t just harm productivity, it leads straight to burnout. Gen Z often works beyond standard hours, especially in remote and hybrid setups where work-life boundaries blur easily. Many of us juggle side projects or freelance gigs alongside our main job, partly because we’re ambitious, and partly because, let’s be honest, how else are we supposed to afford eggs?
Simple steps like providing free lunch can make a difference. We should be creating a culture where hard work and breaks coexist. Gen Z’s approach to mental health isn’t laziness; it’s a response to a work culture that demands constant output. Nearly 60% of hybrid workers said they’d come into the office more if lunch was provided. That’s a small move with big payoffs for employee satisfaction and loyalty.
So, let’s set the record straight. Gen Z is grinding harder than most realize, so hard that a basic lunch break feels like a luxury! The pandemic shifted our norms, and it’s time to rewrite the narrative and recognize that this generation is driven, committed, and overdue for the credit we deserve.
P.S. If you’re Gen Z, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and join students and graduates from around the world finding a path, together!
