Workers in Generation Z are nearly twice as likely to take a sick day when they are not genuinely unwell compared to employees aged 55 and older, according to a survey.

Just over 80 percent of workers under 25 reported taking a sick day in the past year when they were not too ill to work. This compares to 43 percent of staff aged between 55 and 64. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of those under 25 admitted to calling in sick on five separate occasions when they could have worked, while only one in ten older workers reported doing so.

The survey, conducted by Merlin Strategy for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank, also found that almost 80 percent of under-25s cited being "too tired" as a reason for taking unnecessary time off, compared to half that number among older workers. Social reasons, such as a late night or a hangover, were also cited by just over half of workers under 25, versus 19 percent of their older colleagues.

Researchers noted that Gen Z has been perceived as less committed to traditional work methods. A 2022 job-seeker survey indicated that salary was the top priority for Gen Z workers, contrasting with millennials who focused more on career progression and personal development.

Recent research also highlighted that almost half of individuals aged 18 to 29 are experiencing a "quarter-life crisis." Researchers from the University of Greenwich described this as a transitional period lasting several years, characterized by increased difficulty, stress, and instability. Many young people report struggling with adult independence and uncertainty about future opportunities.

Issues such as housing problems and unemployment also contribute to the challenges faced by young workers. According to the Resolution Foundation, nearly two-thirds of people in their early twenties were living with their parents last year. Official figures indicate unemployment among 16- to 24-year-olds stood at 16.2 percent in the three months to June, with almost one million young people out of work during that period. An interim report by Alan Milburn on those not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) suggested that young NEETs are more likely to be economically inactive than unemployed, with a rise in health-based inactivity due to anxiety, depression, or neurodevelopmental conditions.

Milburn has rejected the notion that Gen Z is a lazy generation, stating instead that they are "different in ways that have material consequences."