How Gen Z is rewriting workplace culture and challenging traditional expectations

• Many Gen Z workers are prioritising mental well-being over job security, with some choosing to resign even without a backup plan
• NGBREAKINGNEWS spoke to several Gen Z workers who quit their jobs for various reasons, including concerns over workload versus pay and allegations of toxic workplace environments
• HR professional Sharol Ondeyo said the generational shift in the workplace is a double-edged sword

Imagine walking into the office early on a Monday morning, ready to start a new week, only to find the desk of your newest employee empty. No two-week notice, no handover notes, no dramatic exit speech and, sometimes, not even a resignation text.

“Peace of mind over pay cheque” has become a common mantra among many young workers, leaving little room for negotiations or compromise.

For decades, older generations endured toxic bosses, gruelling work hours and severe burnout out of loyalty to their employers, fear of losing their jobs or anxiety about returning to the job market.

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But Kenya’s Gen Z appears to be tearing up that old rulebook and doing things on their own terms.

To many of them, no salary is worth sacrificing their mental health. Their approach has left human resource managers and older colleagues asking whether Gen Zs are damaging their career prospects or forcing the corporate world to embrace a healthier and more transparent work culture.

Why Gen Z does not fear quitting without plan B

“First of all, my salary should reflect my job description. You cannot pay me peanuts and expect me to do a job that requires three different professionals. If we cannot change that, I am out,” said Rachael Owiti, who quit her job in January 2026.

Speaking to NGBREAKINGNEWS, the 23-year-old explained that she was employed at a cafeteria but resigned after only two months.

Rachael said she was expected to clean the premises, open and close the business six days a week, despite applying for a position as a waitress.

According to her, the salary was too low considering the additional responsibilities she had been assigned.

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She explained that she felt mentally exhausted and barely had time for herself, her family or her friends because she was constantly at work.

“For a waitress, I had no issue with the salary. But when my boss introduced new duties within the first two weeks, I asked whether she would increase my pay. She promised to do so in the second month, but it never happened. That is why I simply stopped showing up,” she said.

The Gen Z recalled waking up one morning feeling overwhelmed and deciding she could no longer endure.

“It was not out of disrespect to my boss. My mind and body could no longer cope with all that work for minimum wage. I had a boda boda rider deliver the cafeteria key and sent her a text asking her to collect it. I had no Plan B, but I was fortunate that my parents could still support me,” she added.

Toxic workplaces push some young workers out

Another Gen Z employee who quit immediately after receiving his salary said that although he loved his job, he could no longer tolerate his supervisor’s behaviour.

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Edwin Otieno told NGBREAKINGNEWS that whenever his boss was dissatisfied with something or whenever an employee made a mistake, he would shout, issue threats, and create a climate of fear in the office.

“I quit my job because the boss was always shouting. He treated us like toddlers, yet we are adults. He made the office toxic, and I dreaded waking up every morning to go to work,” said Edwin.

He recalled one incident in which he was blamed for a mistake he had not made. Even after the misunderstanding was cleared up, his boss neither apologised nor took responsibility.

For Edwin, being treated unfairly made the workplace hostile and uncomfortable. He said he felt tense whenever his boss was around, prompting his decision to leave.

“I waited for my salary because I needed the money to start over elsewhere. I persevered and sent my resignation email the moment I received the bank alert. What came next was not even on my mind, I just wanted to leave,” he explained.

Although their experiences differed, both young workers pointed to two key issues: unfair compensation relative to workload and the emotional toll of toxic work environments.

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Despite having no clear backup plans, both chose to walk away.

What human resource experts say about the shift

But where employees see self-preservation, human resource departments see a growing challenge that requires a balanced solution.

According to HR professional Sharol Ondeyo, the generational shift is a double-edged sword.

She explained that walking out without notice or sending a boda boda rider with office keys is not a professional way to resign and can significantly disrupt business operations.

Ondeyo noted that recruitment processes are often time-consuming and costly, making abrupt resignations particularly damaging to organisations.

“Quitting without notice burns bridges and fundamentally breaks professional trust. Despite the growing focus on mental well-being, the trend of abrupt exits and workplace ghosting is highly damaging. Such resignations create major operational gaps for businesses and leave remaining team members overwhelmed,” Ondeyo told NGBREAKINGNEWS.

According to her, the corporate world is interconnected, and damaging one’s reputation by disappearing without notice could follow them throughout their career and potentially lock them out of better opportunities in the future.

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Is Gen Z forcing companies to change?

On the other hand, the human resource professional argued that Gen Z’s willingness to stand up for themselves is driving a much-needed transformation in workplace culture.

She explained that the younger generation is reshaping workplace expectations by making it easier for employers to understand what employees truly want.

According to Ondeyo, human resource departments were traditionally focused on administration. However, Gen Z’s refusal to tolerate toxic environments is forcing organisations to train managers on emotional intelligence, implement strict anti-bullying policies and ensure that job descriptions align with compensation.

“Gen Z is the wake-up call Kenya’s corporate scene desperately needed. For years, toxic management, unpaid additional duties like those experienced by Rachael, and verbal abuse like what Edwin faced were swept under the carpet because older generations were often too afraid to speak out. Now companies are being forced to adjust,” she explained.

The HR professional added that when managed properly, millennials and older generations can learn from Gen Z’s approach, while Gen Z can also learn the value of professionalism, accountability and resilience from their predecessors.

Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS