Generation Z takes more free time
According to a new study, Generation Z is responsible for the recent increase in employee sick leave.
ATLANTA – A new report from Business Insider highlights that Generation Z is responsible for a significant increase in the number of sick days and mental health days taken by employees.
Sick leave rates increased by 55% in 2023 compared to 2019, with younger workers under 35 taking more vacation days than their older counterparts. Workers aged 22 to 26 were the most likely to take a sabbatical during this period.
Experts believe that this trend is not only due to the lack of work ethic of Generation Z.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed attitudes toward illness in the workplace. Concern about health has increased, and even mild symptoms such as a cold are now taken more seriously.
In addition, the increase in sick leave among Generation Z could be related to the higher rate of mental illness in this generation.
A study by the Walton Foundation found that 42% of Generation Z suffer from depression and hopelessness, compared to 23% of older Americans. This mental health crisis may contribute to younger workers’ increased need for vacation.
