Gen Z Are Changing the Language of the Workplace

by Francesca Cary, Social Media Manager, Hays UK&I

Have you noticed the way people speak in your workplace has changed, or has started to? If so, you’re not alone – almost three-quarters (71%) of workers in the UK believe that Gen Z is altering the formality of language in professional settings, according to a recent study by Barclays LifeSkills.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the modern workplace, the new working generation is leaving its mark on communication. Generation Z, or ‘Gen Z’, usually cited as those born between 1997 and 2012, continue to enter the workforce in their droves. They’re rewriting the rules – not just in terms of work habits, but also in how they communicate. From casual email sign-offs to informal use of instant messaging platforms, Gen Z are changing the way people speak in the workplace. And, while this might be jarring to some of our more experienced professionals, it’s something we see every time a younger generation join the workforce.

Formal language is fading from the workplace

Formal email sign-offs, including “Yours sincerely” and “Yours truly,” are reducing in popularity, with over a third (37%) of professionals deeming these as old-fashioned. Many are now opting to use more informal options, such as “Thanks!” and “Thanks so much,” with almost half (46% and 50%, respectively) considering these to be friendly sign-offs.

Other written phrases are dividing opinions: the written use of “Hiya” in the workplace is said to be friendly by over four-in-ten (42%) workers, for example, but more than two-thirds (36%) think it’s casual and around one-quarter (26%) say it’s overfamiliar. However, it’s likely that language such as this – once considered too casual or overfamiliar – will continue to be accepted by a greater proportion of the workforce while more formal language will dwindle further, since a growing number of Gen Z are entering the workforce each year while the pool of workers in older generations continually shrinks as they reach retirement age.

In fact, the Barclays LifeSkills study anticipate the following phrases are most likely to become extinct in the workplace in the next 10 years:

• Yours Truly
• Yours Sincerely
• To Whom It May Concern
• With Compliments
• Respects

Instant messaging platforms encourage casual communication

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic threw most of the workforce into unfamiliar territory; many of us had never worked from home before but were then suddenly thrust into fully remote work, followed by a more flexible hybrid model. To mitigate the loss of in-person communication, the popularity of instant messaging platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams skyrocketed in the workplace – the latter of which gained 12 million users in just one week at the start of the pandemic. Many organisations are also now using WhatsApp for work purposes, likely encouraging even more informal communication styles.

These instant messaging apps have paved the way for language evolution in the workplace, with users tending to use more causal language, as well as emojis and GIFs, than they would in an email. Gen Z workers are generally embracing instant messaging platforms, with four-in-ten (40%) in this age group stating that the alternative written communication platform of email restricts their ability to show their personalities. Conversely, over half (54%) of professionals aged 55+ prefer to use email because they consider it to be more professional. Given these statistics, it’s unsurprising that Gen Z workers are almost twice as likely than their older colleagues (aged 55+) to use instant messaging platforms, often as a means of communicating in a casual manner.

The impact of social media on communication styles

Just six years ago, few of us would’ve even heard of TikTok. Now, this social networking platform averaged 1.5 billion monthly users in 2023, and this eye-watering figure is only expected to rise further this year. Other popular social apps – including Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat – have been known for longer. Over four-fifths (83%) of people in the UK are active social media users, so while it’s true that people across all generations use these platforms, Gen Z allocate far more of their time to it. In fact, over a third (35%) of Generation Z spend more than four hours per day on social media, meaning their communication style is likely to be more heavily influenced by it.

All age groups cite social media as a factor in why language is changing in the workplace, but workers aged 55+ are more likely to think this than those in the 18-24 age category: 39% compared to 24%, respectively. Could it be that older generations can more clearly see the influence that social media has on their younger colleagues’ language because they’re no so immersed within this online world themselves?

Striking the delicate balance between informality and professionalism

It’s not just Gen Z who are adopting more informal language in the workplace – this shift is also influencing older age brackets, with almost three-quarters (73%) of workers across all generations saying they had become more casual with their communication style.

While coming across as personable by using more casual language can help to build business relationships, it’s important to remember that workplace etiquette remains crucial. There can be a fine line between informality and professionalism, so ensure that you’re not coming across as overfamiliar or informal to a more senior member of staff that you don’t work with closely, for example. So, as we navigate this language evolution in the workplace, let’s welcome Gen Z’s fresh approach while maintaining formal communication when necessary.