College students are disenchanted with the labor market that awaits them after graduation. Gen Z’s thoughts on U.S. work culture show a new generation of employees that’s skeptical of companies expecting long hours and rigid schedules.
A new College Pulse survey of 1,500 undergraduate students finds that almost 9 in 10 (86%) believe the U.S. has a toxic work culture. Female students are more likely than male students to say so (91% vs. 78%), however.
Students blame the unhealthy culture, in part, on long work hours. Two-thirds (67%) of students say long work hours are the most toxic aspect of American work culture, compared to almost half who say a lack of paid time off (48%) and inflexible schedules (47%). Female students are more likely than male students to say not enough paid time off is most toxic (54% vs. 37%).
What’s more, students aren’t necessarily willing to put up with a toxic workplace for a paycheck. Three-quarters (77%) of students say their generation is less willing to put up with toxic behavior compared to their parents’ generation. Almost 9 in 10 (88%) Black students say their generation will put up with less toxic behavior, compared to about three-quarters of Hispanic/Latinx (78%), white (75%), and Asian (73%) students.
Percentage of students who say their generation is willing to put up with less toxic behavior in the workplace compared to their parents’ generation.
Students also place little trust in human resources (HR) departments. Nearly 4 in 10 (36%) students believe human resources’ job is to protect employees, compared to 46% who believe human resources’ job is to protect the company and 17% who are not sure. Just one-quarter (24%) of students say they would feel very comfortable going to human resources about something inappropriate their boss did or said. Another 40% say they would feel somewhat comfortable, 28% say not too comfortable, and 7% say not at all comfortable.
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted in October among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
