A totally honest conversation about leaving work on time (and why your boss hates it)
By Deepanshu Chauhan
So there’s this guy, Aryan. He’s 22, works in Delhi, and is pretty smart. He’s good at his job, respectful, and shows up on time. You’d think his company would appreciate him, right? Wrong.
His manager can’t stand him. It’s not because Aryan is bad at his work; he’s not. It’s because he does this surprising thing: he simply leaves the office when his shift ends. I know. Scandalous.
He also talks to his coworkers instead of acting like his desk is a quiet cell. Then, in what I can only assume was a moment of pure delusion, he asked if he could work in a hybrid model.
His manager, who has been working at this company for 20 years, looked at him like he just asked for a company yacht. “Even requesting a hybrid is a privilege,” he said.
And honestly, if you’ve ever worked in a traditional office, you know exactly what kind of manager that is. You’ve probably had that manager. If you’re reading this at your desk right now, pretending to look busy, that manager might be sitting three cubicles away from you.
Quick question: Are you a Gen Z?
If you were born between 1995 and 2012, congratulations, you’re officially Gen Z. And if you’re a bit older, you’re likely either nodding because you understand, or you’re already writing an angry comment about “kids these days.”
Here’s what makes Gen Z uncomfortable for many: they expect work to make sense.
Surprising, I know.
They scroll through Instagram and see people in Europe casually trying four-day work weeks. They watch TikToks of people enjoying life after work, going out, meeting friends, and doing things that don’t involve staring at a screen until they feel drained.
Then they look at their own lives. Nine hours in the office. No flexibility. “But we’re a family here!” vibe. And they think, why are we doing it this way?
That’s not an entitlement. That’s just asking questions. Apparently, that’s now seen as a bold move.
What do Gen Zs actually want? (Spoiler: It’s not that crazy)
Some researchers, Dawn Jenssen and Stephen Carradini, took the time to ask Gen Z what they want from work instead of just complaining about them.
The results? They are either completely reasonable or quite alarming, depending on your age.
Every single person wanted a work-life balance. Not “most people.” Not “a majority.” Everyone. 100%. All of them.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, yeah, obviously,” you’re probably under 30. If you think, “That’s unrealistic,” you likely have a framed certificate on your wall from 1997.
They also said they’re scared of never being able to truly leave work. You know that feeling when it’s 9 PM on a Sunday, and you’re watching Netflix but also checking your email because what if something urgent came up? They can’t stand that. They want to close their laptop and really be done for the day.
Crazy concept, right?
Oh, and almost no one wanted the traditional 9-to-5, five-day schedule. Only one person in the entire study thought, “Yeah, that sounds fine.” Just one.
But like… why though?
Okay, so here’s where it gets interesting. It’s easy to say, “Gen Z is lazy” or “Gen Z is entitled,” and leave it at that. But there’s actually some psychology behind this.
They know phones are ruining their lives. Unlike older millennials, who gradually became attached to their devices, Gen Z grew up watching it happen. They’ve witnessed the impact of constant screen time. So when they say, “Hey, maybe I don’t want to stare at a computer for 9 straight hours,” they’re not being dramatic. They’re trying to protect their brains.
They’ve never known a world where they could just leave work. Think about it. Their parents could leave the office and be completely unreachable until morning. Gen Z hasn’t experienced that. There’s always Slack. Always email. Always that one person who sends “quick question!” messages at 11 PM (we all know that person). So they’re trying to set boundaries that older generations had without even trying.
FOMO is real, and it’s exhausting. I don’t just mean missing parties. It’s the nagging feeling that while you’re working late to show commitment, life is happening. Friends are making memories. People are falling in love. Someone is probably enjoying a great meal right now. And you’re… reformatting a PowerPoint slide. Again.
Job hopping makes financial sense. Here’s something nobody wants to admit: staying at your company might get you a 5-10% raise. But switching jobs? That can mean a 30% increase. So when Gen Z changes jobs every two years, they’re not being flaky. They’re being smart. Loyalty stopped paying off decades ago; they’re just the first generation to fully realize it.
The part where both sides are kind of right (and also kind of wrong)
Here’s the uncomfortable truth that nobody wants to hear: both Gen Z and their managers are right in their own ways.
The old system is broken. Staying late doesn’t make you more productive; it just makes you tired. Believing in “face time” is misguided. We should encourage questions like “why do we do it this way?” instead of punishing them.
But sometimes, structure matters. There is value in being physically present. Sometimes, you have to put in the time before you gain the freedoms you want.
The issue is that we’re all missing each other’s points.
Managers view boundaries as a sign of low commitment. Gen Z sees overwork as a sign of disrespect. Managers think arriving early and leaving late shows you care. Gen Z thinks that’s just pretending and doesn’t relate to real output.
Honestly? You probably know which side you’re on right now. Your gut reaction to this shows how your generation has shaped your views.
So what do we actually do about this?
Look, I don’t have all the answers. Nobody does. But maybe, hear me out, we could try meeting in the middle.
For the managers and companies: What if staying until 7 PM isn’t really the flexibility you think it is? What if someone who finishes their work efficiently and leaves at 5 is better than someone who stretches tasks to fill time? What if “we’ve always done it this way” is the least convincing argument ever?
For Gen Z (and yes, millennials too): What if not everything is a battle worth fighting? What if some patience is needed? What if your 50-year-old manager isn’t evil; they’re just dealing with outdated systems, and it’s genuinely tough for them to change it?
The future probably looks like flexibility without chaos. It might have structure without soul-crushing rigidity. There can be dedication that doesn’t require sacrificing your entire life.
But right now? We’re stuck in this strange standoff where everyone’s frustrated, nobody’s listening, and we’re all just hoping the other side gives in first.
The real talk
Aryan leaves at 5 PM because he has a life outside work. His manager thinks this means he doesn’t care. Aryan believes his manager is stuck in a system that confuses exhaustion with dedication. They are both probably right.
If you’re reading this at your desk right now, pretending to work while actually wondering whether to update your resume or just stick it out, you might be feeling that same tension.
The real question isn’t whether you should work hard or long. It’s: what are you working for? Is it for that promotion you might get in three years? For the approval of a boss who doesn’t know your birthday? For the satisfaction of being the last person in the office, as if that makes you special?
Or is it for the life you want to live outside these walls? Because here’s something nobody tells you: nobody has ever said on their deathbed, “I wish I had stayed at the office longer.”
So, maybe Aryan is onto something. Leaving at 5 PM might not be rebellion; it could just be sanity. But what do I know? I’m just here writing this while pretending to be in a meeting.
