A Reddit post about a Gen Z intern’s unusual leave email has gone viral, sparking a lively debate on work culture across generations. Shared on the subreddit r/IndianWorkplace, the post was titled “Corporate world is not ready for Gen Z!” and included a screenshot of the intern’s email, which was anything but traditional.
The email, written by an intern at an AI startup, had the subject line ‘Going on a trip’ and read: “Hi, feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the work, and my energy feels a little off, so not getting that vibe right now. I’ll be out from 28th July to 30th July (please don’t miss me). Here’s my train PNR XXX, and attaching the booking slip for reference. Will talk soon, bye.”
The Reddit user who posted the email explained that they were supervising a small group of three Gen Z interns and were taken by surprise. They wrote, “I got an email from one of the interns asking for leave (not actually asking), and aisa mail 20 saal ki career mein main kabhi nahi dekha.” Despite being shocked at first, the employer admitted they admired the intern’s honesty and openness, calling the message “fascinating” and eventually approving the leave.
The post quickly grabbed attention online. While some users were amused by the intern’s confident tone, others praised it. One person commented, “W employee. And W employer. Credit where it is due.” Another said, “I’m looking forward to the Gen Z at work, because they are pretty vocal about their state of mind and their needs.”
Someone else jokingly said, “Honestly this is iconic and we should all learn from Gen Z, especially my husband who has not taken any leave in 2 months.”
Others pointed out the cultural shift between generations. One user shared, “Gen Zers can send such an email because they have been brought up in a relatively high economic comfort than us millennials. They don’t know what it’s like to struggle in life.”
While older generations may find this approach too laid-back, many agree that it’s refreshing to see young workers being open about their mental space and setting boundaries early in their careers. Whether you find it bold or bizarre, one thing is clear, Gen Z is bringing a new kind of energy to the workplace, and it’s definitely making people talk.