A survey of young Gen Z workers in Britain found that 31% are considering resigning because their job is having a negative impact on their health and well-being. What is the situation in Greece?
The stereotype of the spoiled Zoomer, as members of Gen Z are sometimes mockingly called, is one of the most persistent. At least until Generation Alpha teenagers come of age and take over as the next scapegoat. Until then, we will continue to read analyses claiming that those born between 1998 and 2012 are unwilling to work, overly sensitive—in the negative sense of the word—lack social skills, and have poor work ethics.
This is the classic repertoire of complaints, generalizations, and unfounded accusations that older generations have directed at young people of every era, adapted to the present day. When Millennials, who are now entering their forties, were entering the labor market, Time magazine dubbed them the “me me me generation”—self-centered and narcissistic, lazy, still living with their parents, and convinced that the world owed them something.
Before them, Gen X—or at least a segment of it—was labeled “slackers,” a term that also implied laziness and a lack of effort. Something similar happened to the second wave of Baby Boomers, those born in the 1950s and early 1960s. They were dubbed the “me generation,” associated with personal introspection and self-improvement, and accused by American writer Tom Wolfe, the father of New Journalism, of caring more about themselves than the common good.
Gen Z Seeks Balance
The positive development today is that there is strong evidence contradicting the narrative of a lazy and overly sensitive Gen Z. International and Greek studies suggest that this is a generation that has experienced economic pressure and job insecurity firsthand. After all, this is a generation that has grown up from one crisis to another: from the economic recession to the pandemic, and from there to a barrage of overlapping crises involving energy, housing, climate, and the cost of living.
Despite these difficulties, Gen Z does not subscribe to the doctrine of “any job will do.” According to Deloitte’s latest 2026 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which included more than 22,500 young people across 44 countries, including Greece, today’s people in their twenties and thirties are redefining the meaning of professional success.
Stability, skills development, mental well-being, and quality of life are becoming more important than rapid career advancement or holding a leadership position. More than 90% of Gen Z respondents in Greece say they need their work to have meaning in order to feel professionally satisfied. Four in ten say that work is a major source of stress, while most believe that businesses are not taking adequate measures to support employees’ mental well-being. More than one in two (52%) have left a job because they did not feel it had a sense of purpose—a figure higher than the global average.
What a New Survey of Gen Z Workers Shows
The IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), the largest international non-governmental organization dedicated to occupational safety and health, based in Britain, recently commissioned YouGov to conduct a survey among 500 workers aged 18 and over. The findings point to a generation entering the labor market with enthusiasm and talent, but quickly learning that their well-being and personal development are being pushed into second place.
Nearly half of respondents, 48%, believe that their employer prioritizes achieving targets over their health and well-being. Fifty-six percent feel that they are judged more by the targets they achieve than by their creativity or overall contribution.
More than one in three, or 34%, say they feel uncomfortable taking a full break or disconnecting outside working hours. Fifteen percent have taken time off during the past year because of anxiety, depression, or work-related stress, while another 23% have come close to doing so.
Nearly one in three, or 31%, have considered leaving their job because the way it is designed has a negative impact on their health and well-being. Twelve percent have considered leaving the labor market altogether.
A lack of preparation also emerges as a major problem. Forty-two percent of young people say they left education without a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety at work. As a result, they often find it difficult to speak up when something goes wrong.
IOSH is calling on businesses to place well-being at the center of job design, create a workplace culture that respects employees’ right to rest, strengthen early education on health and safety issues, and give young workers a genuine voice in decisions that affect them.
What Is the Situation in Greece?
Young workers in Greece share many characteristics with their peers in Britain and other European countries, but there are also significant differences. The latest nationwide survey conducted by the Labour Institute of the Greek General Confederation of Trade Unions (GSEE), in cooperation with ALCO, among a sample of 1,500 working young people aged up to 29, is particularly revealing.
It portrays a highly educated but insecure generation, characterized by low wages, limited prospects, and high levels of stress. As the study notes, “despite their distrust of institutions, young people show a willingness to engage in collective action and seek work that offers meaning, creativity, and work-life balance.” The study highlights the need for job stability, fair wages, stronger mental health support, and meaningful policies aimed at retaining young talent.
Financial dependence emerges as a central finding. Only 20% of young workers live on their own, while 45% continue to live with their families. This figure rises to 65% among those working part-time. Sixty-two percent acknowledge being financially dependent on their parents, while 70% say that their income is insufficient to cover their basic needs. The study links this situation to low wages, high housing costs, and an inadequate welfare state.
Workplace Burnout
The daily pressure is reflected in even higher figures than those recorded in the British survey. Sixty percent say they experience burnout at work, 62% report that their job negatively affects their personal life, and 46% feel that work has a negative impact on their health or sleep. Only 21% report a positive work-life balance, while 53% say they experience stress.
Creativity appears to have very little room in the Greek labor market. Only 36% say that their job allows them to take initiative and express their ideas, while creativity is recognized and rewarded in only 24% of cases.
The values of this generation are at odds with the conditions they face. Seventy percent place mental health above financial security, while 73% believe that work should have meaning beyond financial compensation. At the same time, 65% say they would accept undeclared work if they had no other choice—a contradiction that reveals just how deep their insecurity is. The prospect of migration is emerging as a realistic risk. Seventy-two percent do not see professional opportunities in Greece, and only 9% are satisfied with their own career prospects. Forty-six percent express an interest in working abroad, while 79% believe that their parents’ generation experienced better working and social conditions. Sixty-five percent consider starting a family to be unattainable under current working conditions.
