1 in 3 Gen Z Workers Have Yelled at Their Boss

A new ResumeTemplates.com survey of 1,200 Gen Z full-time workers reveals that Gen Z’s approach to workplace behavior reflects a growing belief that authenticity matters more than professionalism.

Highlights:

• 32% of Gen Z workers have yelled at their boss
• 45% have cried in front of or to their boss
• 50% have talked badly about their boss to coworkers
• 1 in 10 have posted negative content about their boss online
• 22% have faced consequences for unprofessional behavior
• 2 in 3 Gen Zers believe expectations around professionalism are excessive

32% of Gen Z Workers Have Yelled at Their Boss

Nearly one-third of Gen Z workers (32%) admit they’ve yelled at their boss. Most say it happened during a stressful work situation (59%), while others lost their temper over workload or expectations (48%) or after feeling offended (45%). Smaller shares admit to yelling after receiving criticism (22%), over differing political or social views, or during a performance review (8%).

Nearly Half of Gen Z Workers Have Cried to Their Boss

Forty-five percent of Gen Z workers say they’ve cried in front of or to their boss. Tears were shed most often over personal issues (65%) or burnout (54%). Others became emotional after receiving negative feedback (18%) or during a performance review (12%).

“Gen Z is one of the most emotionally aware generations, and they’re not afraid to show it. They’ll tell their manager exactly how work is affecting them and why,” says ResumeTemplates’ Chief Career Strategist Julia Toothacre.

“For a lot of older workers, that’s hard to understand. We were taught to keep quiet, deal with it, and not risk our jobs. But Gen Z has seen people get laid off or fired even when doing great work, so they don’t see silence as protection.”

Half of Gen Z Workers Gossip About Their Boss to Coworkers

Exactly half (50%) of Gen Z workers say they’ve talked negatively about their boss to coworkers. Among those who did, 88% vented frustrations, 60% criticized their boss, and 28% made fun of them.

Additionally, 7% of Gen Z workers admit to posting negative content about their boss online.

“Gossip can come with real consequences. If it gets back to your manager, it can damage trust, strain relationships, and lead to being labeled as difficult or unprofessional. It could even result in a formal warning in more serious cases,” says Toothacre.

“That said, employees do need space to vent and process workplace situations because it’s how people learn to navigate workplace challenges. The key is knowing the difference between healthy venting and harmful gossip. Keep those conversations private and focused on problem-solving, not tearing someone down.”

1 in 10 Gen Z Workers Have Flirted With Their Boss

Seven percent of Gen Z workers 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%).

2 in 3 Gen Z Workers Say They’re Expected To Be Too Professional at Work

While 45% of Gen Z workers say professionalism is essential, more (49%) believe it should allow for some personality. Seven percent go further, saying it’s outdated or overrated. Two-thirds (66%) believe older generations expect too much professionalism from them.

“Having personality doesn’t make someone unprofessional, but Gen Z employees need to understand the professional expectations in their company and industry. They don’t have to change who they are, but they do need to learn how to adapt their authentic selves to fit their environment. That balance is what builds credibility and influence over time,” says Toothacre.

Methodology: The survey was conducted on the Pollfish platform by ResumeTemplates.com in October 2025 and included 1,200 full-time Gen Z workers in the United States between the ages of 18 and 28.