Why Gen Z and Young Millennials Are Taking More Sick Days

Gen Z and young Millennials are taking more sick days than before, with mental health struggles driving this trend. While burnout, anxiety, and depression impact many age groups, young workers are feeling the effects most acutely.An analysis in the United Kingdom found that Gen Z and younger Millennials are missing up to one workday per week due to mental health issues.In the United States, data from the human resource platform Gusto showed that workers aged 25 to 34 were more likely to have taken sick leave than older colleagues.

A fall 2022 Census Bureau survey found that 44% of Gen Z young adults ages 18 to 24 reported feeling persistently nervous, on edge, or anxious, while 33% experienced ongoing feelings of depression, sadness, or hopelessness.

With Gen Z projected to make up31% of the workforce in 2031, their need for workplaces that prioritize mental well-being is reshaping work culture.

“Gen Z is reshaping the workplace landscape and having open and honest dialogue around work and work-life balance, figuring out how each workplace cultural organization toes that line,”Millie Cordaro, PhD, a board-certified therapist and professor at Texas State University, told Verywell.

Should I Take a Sick Day?

Why Might Young People Take More Sick Days?

While mental health struggles have become more openly discussed in the workplace, Gen Z faces unique challenges in managing these issues.“Younger generations may feel more upset when they’re anxious and struggle more emotionally and behaviorally than previous generations,”David H. Rosmarin, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told Verywell.

This increased sensitivity may contribute to workplace tensions as younger employees advocate for better work-life balance.

“Sensitivity to some point can help, but there are diminishing returns and I think we’re past the point of diminishing returns, not only for productivity but actually for mental health itself,” Rosmarin said. “We have this mistaken belief that our moods, our emotions, and our lives should always be within equanimity and I don’t think it’s serving us well.”

A recent survey of employees in the finance, technology, and professional services industries in the U.K. and the U.S. found a link between low productivity and generational tensions in the workplace. Gen Z was the highest to self-report for low productivity at 37%. Those with managers more than 12 years their senior were nearly 1.5 times as likely to report low productivity.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a significant global stressor, has uniquely impacted Gen Z as well. While they were more open to change during the pandemic than older generations like Gen X, they showed lower resilience and higher susceptibility to anxiety and depression.

Cordaro said that older generations have gathered a bit more wisdom and resilience from collective traumas like recessions and 9/11, which helped buffer the mental health effects of the pandemic. Unresolved trauma from events like the pandemic can have lingering effects on mental health.

“Everything’s going to hit harder, and we’re going to be more symptomatic in terms of our mental health,” Cordaro added.

Signs You’re in a Work Burnout

How Can Employers Offer Better Support?

Several studies have found a link between strong social networks and lower rates of burnout. For example, a study in Japan on burnout among healthcare professionals recommended redesigning work environments to boost social interaction and increase trust, reciprocity, and support in the workplace.

Lollipop, a company focused on enhancing supervisor-employee connections, uses pulse surveys through its app to prioritize employee well-being. After completing the survey, the feedback goes directly to the manager for review, making check-ins a routine part of the workweek.

“Having the conversation is really key,” Rosmarin said, adding that regular check-ins can serve as a discussion or negotiation rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all-all solution onto employees.

How Can Remote Workers Adapt to Office Life Again?

What This Means For YouData shows Gen Z and young Millennials are taking more sick days, often due to mental health struggles like burnout, anxiety, and depression. If you’re in this age group, consider prioritizing self-care, seeking professional help when needed, and advocating for mental health support in your workplace.

What This Means For You

Data shows Gen Z and young Millennials are taking more sick days, often due to mental health struggles like burnout, anxiety, and depression. If you’re in this age group, consider prioritizing self-care, seeking professional help when needed, and advocating for mental health support in your workplace.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yahoo Finance.Gen Z and young millennial employees are missing the equivalent of one day’s work every week due to mental health concerns, research shows.Gusto.Younger workers leading the charge on taking sick leave post-pandemic.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt nervous, anxious or on edge for more than half of the days or nearly every day in the past two weeks in United States.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt down, depressed or hopeless for more than half of the days or nearly every day for the past two weeks in United States.Protiviti.Generational tensions linked to lower workplace productivity in the UK and US.Wood D, Crapnell T, Lau L, et al.Emerging adulthood as a critical stage in the life course. In: Halfon N, Forrest CB, Lerner RM, Faustman EM, eds.Handbook of Life Course Health Development. Cham (CH): Springer; 2017.123-143. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47143-3_7Matud MP, Díaz A, Bethencourt JM, Ibáñez I.Stress and psychological distress in emerging adulthood: a gender analysis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(9):2859. doi:10.3390/jcm9092859Harari TT, Sela Y, Bareket-Bojmel L.Gen Z during the COVID-19 crisis: a comparative analysis of the differences between Gen Z and Gen X in resilience, values and attitudes.Curr Psychol. 2022;42:24223–24232. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03501-4American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America survey.Murayama H, Nonaka K, Hasebe M, Fujiwara Y.Workplace and community social capital and burnout among professionals of health and welfare services for the seniors: a multilevel analysis in Japan.J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):e12177. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12177

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yahoo Finance.Gen Z and young millennial employees are missing the equivalent of one day’s work every week due to mental health concerns, research shows.Gusto.Younger workers leading the charge on taking sick leave post-pandemic.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt nervous, anxious or on edge for more than half of the days or nearly every day in the past two weeks in United States.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt down, depressed or hopeless for more than half of the days or nearly every day for the past two weeks in United States.Protiviti.Generational tensions linked to lower workplace productivity in the UK and US.Wood D, Crapnell T, Lau L, et al.Emerging adulthood as a critical stage in the life course. In: Halfon N, Forrest CB, Lerner RM, Faustman EM, eds.Handbook of Life Course Health Development. Cham (CH): Springer; 2017.123-143. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47143-3_7Matud MP, Díaz A, Bethencourt JM, Ibáñez I.Stress and psychological distress in emerging adulthood: a gender analysis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(9):2859. doi:10.3390/jcm9092859Harari TT, Sela Y, Bareket-Bojmel L.Gen Z during the COVID-19 crisis: a comparative analysis of the differences between Gen Z and Gen X in resilience, values and attitudes.Curr Psychol. 2022;42:24223–24232. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03501-4American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America survey.Murayama H, Nonaka K, Hasebe M, Fujiwara Y.Workplace and community social capital and burnout among professionals of health and welfare services for the seniors: a multilevel analysis in Japan.J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):e12177. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12177

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Yahoo Finance.Gen Z and young millennial employees are missing the equivalent of one day’s work every week due to mental health concerns, research shows.Gusto.Younger workers leading the charge on taking sick leave post-pandemic.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt nervous, anxious or on edge for more than half of the days or nearly every day in the past two weeks in United States.Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt down, depressed or hopeless for more than half of the days or nearly every day for the past two weeks in United States.Protiviti.Generational tensions linked to lower workplace productivity in the UK and US.Wood D, Crapnell T, Lau L, et al.Emerging adulthood as a critical stage in the life course. In: Halfon N, Forrest CB, Lerner RM, Faustman EM, eds.Handbook of Life Course Health Development. Cham (CH): Springer; 2017.123-143. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47143-3_7Matud MP, Díaz A, Bethencourt JM, Ibáñez I.Stress and psychological distress in emerging adulthood: a gender analysis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(9):2859. doi:10.3390/jcm9092859Harari TT, Sela Y, Bareket-Bojmel L.Gen Z during the COVID-19 crisis: a comparative analysis of the differences between Gen Z and Gen X in resilience, values and attitudes.Curr Psychol. 2022;42:24223–24232. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03501-4American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America survey.Murayama H, Nonaka K, Hasebe M, Fujiwara Y.Workplace and community social capital and burnout among professionals of health and welfare services for the seniors: a multilevel analysis in Japan.J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):e12177. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12177

Yahoo Finance.Gen Z and young millennial employees are missing the equivalent of one day’s work every week due to mental health concerns, research shows.

Gusto.Younger workers leading the charge on taking sick leave post-pandemic.

Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt nervous, anxious or on edge for more than half of the days or nearly every day in the past two weeks in United States.

Annie E. Casey Foundation.Adults ages 18 to 24 who felt down, depressed or hopeless for more than half of the days or nearly every day for the past two weeks in United States.

Protiviti.Generational tensions linked to lower workplace productivity in the UK and US.

Wood D, Crapnell T, Lau L, et al.Emerging adulthood as a critical stage in the life course. In: Halfon N, Forrest CB, Lerner RM, Faustman EM, eds.Handbook of Life Course Health Development. Cham (CH): Springer; 2017.123-143. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47143-3_7

Matud MP, Díaz A, Bethencourt JM, Ibáñez I.Stress and psychological distress in emerging adulthood: a gender analysis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(9):2859. doi:10.3390/jcm9092859

Harari TT, Sela Y, Bareket-Bojmel L.Gen Z during the COVID-19 crisis: a comparative analysis of the differences between Gen Z and Gen X in resilience, values and attitudes.Curr Psychol. 2022;42:24223–24232. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03501-4

American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America survey.

Murayama H, Nonaka K, Hasebe M, Fujiwara Y.Workplace and community social capital and burnout among professionals of health and welfare services for the seniors: a multilevel analysis in Japan.J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):e12177. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12177

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?