What Happened
In Switzerland, a job posting with the phrase "No Generation Z" in its headline was released,
rekindling debates over stereotypes about young people and generational conflict.
According to Swiss public broadcaster SRF on the 9th (local time),
a caregiving service company in Rumlang, near Zurich, used this phrase in the title of a job posting last month for a team leader-level position.
Why It Sparked Controversy
The problem lay in the content of the posting.
The body text also included the phrase "No Monday-or-Friday sick-leave mindset."
Although there is no universally agreed definition of the exact age range for Generation Z,
local media interpreted the posting as effectively excluding applicants born between 1995 and 2010.
Under Swiss law, age limits in recruitment are not considered discrimination,
but criticism mounted that it "labeled young people as lazy," and the phrase was later removed.
What the Actual Data Shows
Statistics tell a different story from the prevailing perception.
According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, in 2024 the average number of sick days by age group was
highest among those aged 55 to 64, at 10.6 days,
while those aged 15 to 24 took 9.5 days,
and those aged 25 to 34 took 8.2 days on average.
In other words, younger people were actually taking fewer sick days than older groups.
What Experts Say
Generational researcher Francois Hoefflinger
acknowledged that younger generations tend to value a balance between work, family, and leisure,
but explained that "differences within a generation are greater than differences between generations."
He argued that the whole debate around Generation Z is overblown.
He added that this is "a stereotype divorced from reality and a long-standing tradition,"
noting that there has been a recurring pattern, dating back to ancient Greece, of condemning young people as lazy.
Yael Meier of consulting firm Chaeam likewise pointed out that a blanket exclusion of Generation Z
is a short-sighted judgment that ignores the realities of the labor market.
Debate Spreads to Germany
The debate has spread to Germany as well.
When politicians began saying that "people need to work more,"
many interpreted it as targeting young people who prioritize work-life balance.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz fueled controversy by saying that "the parent generation did not talk about work-life balance or a four-day workweek when they were rebuilding postwar Germany,"
and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is even considering measures to restrict "lifestyle part-time work."
However, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) under the German Federal Employment Agency,
the labor force participation rate among 20- to 24-year-olds rose from 69.7% in 2015
to 75.9% in 2023, meaning it has actually increased.
The institute stated that "the perception that Generation Z works less is not supported by the facts."
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Edit Maeng Jiae mjiae@asiae.co.kr
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Reporter Park Eunseo rloseo8@asiae.co.kr
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