What is “conscious unbossing”, this increasingly popular trend among Gen Z?

There was a time when landing the role of manager was synonymous with professional success. More than a goal, it was the Holy Grail for young people starting out on the job market. Today, having a position of responsibility no longer seems to be a goal to achieve for Gen Z. On the contrary, the new generation favors personal development, well-being and a stress-free work routine. This is called “conscious unbossing”. Benjamin Muller explains to us what it is about in Hello! La Matinale on TF1.

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Dealing with problems? Very little for Gen Z!

Responsibility, stress, professional pressure and conflict management? Very little for the younger generation. According to a study carried out by the recruitment firm Robert Walters in September 2024, one in two young employees, under the age of 30, do not want a position of responsibility. Furthermore, 16% of respondents refuse any job involving managing direct reports. Becoming a boss or manager is often synonymous with sacrifice, stress and managing problems of all kinds. However, young people from Gen Z aspire to a more “mundane” and routine professional lifestyle.

On social networks, many videos celebrate this “cushion” life. Many TikTok users do not hesitate to film themselves in the office in its most routine forms: the coffee break, the lunch break, meals reheated in the microwave. In short, normality. It was Texan Connor Hubbard who launched the “Normalize the norm” movement by sharing his daily life on Instagram. Repetitive videos without much interest and which nevertheless are popular, because they are described as “deeply soothing” by its subscribers.

Personal/professional life balance above all

Generation Z therefore seems to prefer the “Truman Show” model of life rather than “The Wolf of Wall Street”. For these young people, the relationship with work has changed and they favor balance between personal and professional life. For them, a manager or director role is perceived as too intrusive, demanding, stressful and does not fit with their personal aspirations.

The Covid crisis undoubtedly has something to do with it. Lockdowns have changed our relationship with the world of work and the time spent on work. It's not surprising to see that Gen Z favors teleworking, flexible hours and a collaborative work environment. Certainly, the notion of pleasure at work and professional ambition still exists among certain young adults. But Gen Z believes that working long hours does not guarantee a promotion, but rather enriches the bosses. And since they have no chance, they might as well prefer routine.