Insider Finance - Business - Gen Z's workplace revolt

Nicholas Carlson November 3, 2022

Hello, Insiders. Where'd you sleep last night? Wherever it was, it was probably more comfortable than where Twitter staffer Esther Crawford slept the other night — on the floor in a sleeping bag in a conference room. She says she and her team were “pushing round the clock” to meet Twitter’s new deadlines.

I’d never do that. But Esther says she's cool with it. She tweeted: "I love my family and I’m grateful they understand that there are times where I need to go into overdrive to grind and push in order to deliver." What about you? Would you ever intentionally #SleepWhereYouWork? Let us know at insidertoday@insider.com.

The latest

• Breaking: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in the leg at a political march, according to reports. Follow here. 

• Trump is suing New York Attorney General Letitia James after she served him with a $250 million fraud lawsuit. Read the full story.

• Twitter has a list of thousands of employees who will be laid off, according to people familiar with Musk’s plans. It represents about 50% of Twitter’s workforce.

The big story

Marianne Ayala/Insider

Gen Z is refusing to put up with the toxic work culture that Boomers created.

There are so many articles out there about Gen Z’s alleged distaste for workplace “norms” — but young workers aren’t entitled, lazy, or even looking to slack off. Instead, they’re choosing to reject practices that previous generations were forced to accept.

Gen Zers are less likely to go along with long hours, overbearing bosses, or a lack of boundaries at work. And many have opted to create change from within their workplaces, whether through activism or unionizing. 

“I think my generation is finally starting to realize that it doesn’t matter if you’re in the food industry, retail, construction, healthcare, etc., we all deserve to have healthier working conditions,” Laila Dalton, a 20-year-old college student and former Starbucks worker, told writer Kim Kelly.

Here’s how Gen Z is revolutionizing the workplace.

Top reads

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• Top Russian generals, frustrated by humiliating losses, mused about nuking Ukraine. According to CNN, the generals discussed using tactical nuclear weapons in the eastern European country — and US intelligence isn't quite sure what to make of the situation. What we know so far. 

• A widely followed recession indicator with a strong track record just flashed red. Yield curve inversions have long been seen as a signal that an economic recession is on the horizon, and they've already happened across other timeframes. Here’s why the countdown to a recession has officially begun.

• A former special forces trainer shares how to get fit. Mark Lauren said he was pushed to exercise until he passed out while in the military, but has since realized that less is more — and that all you need is your bodyweight. He offers tips for getting fit in just nine minutes a day.

• Facebook has more of your information than you realize. Even if you’ve never signed up for any of its core services (including Instagram, Facebook, or Messenger), the company likely still has your email and phone number — but it quietly rolled out a feature to wipe your info. Here’s how to delete your contact information.

Today’s sound bite

Real or fake: "Mondrian artwork has been hanging upside down for 75 years."

Play along with our weekly game, Two Headlines and a Lie, in today’s episode of The Refresh from Insider.

Watch this

North Korea launched at least 23 missiles Wednesday — its most in a single day. One landed in territorial waters close to South Korea, sparking fear among residents. Watch the footage here. 

Today's team

Nicholas Carlson (@nichcarlson), Hallam Bullock (@hallam_bullock), Lisa Ryan (@lisarya), Jordan Parker Erb (@jordanparkererb), and Shona Ghosh (@shonaghosh).

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