Workplace culture clashes between Gen Z and older employees aren’t new, but a recent Reddit post has thrown fuel on the fire. A senior employee in the tax sector shared his experience with a new Gen Z hire, and his rant about her “entitlement” has sparked a heated debate online. From asking seniors to change their tone to casually saying “my facecard never declines,” the story has left the internet split between defending respect and calling out arrogance.
According to the Redditor, the new junior wasn’t just focused on learning—she was already eyeing leadership roles. Within a few weeks of joining, she began asking when she would get the chance to lead negotiations. She also emphasised that she had the “presence” for such responsibilities, which the senior felt was more about confidence and charisma than actual skill.
But what really stood out to him was her demand for “softness” in communication. If a senior gave direct instructions, she would object to the tone and ask them to rephrase it. According to him, it wasn’t that she felt insulted—she simply expected colleagues to package feedback with extra patience and politeness. The Redditor recalled her once even saying, “my facecard never declines.”
He admitted that this perception might be tied to her appearance, saying she seemed accustomed to people being overly polite and accommodating. “In her mind, being attractive means she should be handled with care, never corrected too harshly, always made to feel special,” he explained. Beyond her behaviour, he felt it reflected a larger generational shift. In his early days, seniors could openly rip apart a draft in front of the entire team, and juniors were expected to take it as a valuable lesson. Today, younger employees want feedback delivered with extra care—almost as if mistakes should be pointed out with the calm politeness of a spa receptionist breaking unpleasant news.
The post struck a nerve, quickly going viral as thousands weighed in. While some agreed that Gen Z often confuses feedback with personal attacks, others argued that expecting respect and kindness at work isn’t entitlement—it’s just a healthier approach to leadership.
Internet reacts
Some users felt it’s reasonable to expect respect and fair treatment at work, but not to demand special privileges based on appearance. Others argued that younger employees showing confidence and refusing to tolerate toxic environments is a welcome change from earlier generations, who were conditioned to seek validation through long hours, promotions, and approval from seniors. Many admitted that older workers often endured mistreatment in silence, which only encouraged managers to be more abusive, while Gen Z is more vocal about setting boundaries.
One perspective highlighted how professionalism and constructive feedback from managers can prevent conflicts, while condescension only worsens workplace culture. Several agreed that while all employees should be treated with respect, entitlement or differential treatment has no place. The middle ground, they felt, lies in ensuring equal treatment based on merit, while also encouraging a healthier and more respectful work environment for everyone.
Meanwhile, boAT’s co-founder, Aman Gupta, recently shared that he loves to work with Gen Z because of their lack of filter and fear and how they are more confident and have more exposed to the world via the internet than the previous generation.