Gen Z communicates differently in the workplace, but older colleagues can still decode them

Gen Z workers don’t communicate better or worse than previous generations, but they learned to do so under very different circumstances.

By: Jeff LeBlanc, Boston University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 25, 2026

Words: 1,154

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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By Jeff LeBlanc, Boston University

For all the talk about generational differences at work, some of the biggest differences show up in surprisingly ordinary moments.

Take being late for work. A Gen Z employee in her 20s I spoke with works at a small, locally owned café and restaurant run by an older Gen X owner. When she realized she was going to be late one day, she texted him. He was frustrated. To …

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