Younger Aussies are choosing to prioritise their wellness and happiness over the everyday grind at work, but experts say this could have disastrous repercussions for their careers. 

There are many things that people of different generations tend to disagree on, firmly sticking to the opinion that they’ve formulated as a result of their upbringing and peers. 

Whether it’s arguing about which generation had to contend with the most difficulties growing up, or what constitutes an appropriate outfit, the opinions of the youngest and oldest Aussie adults tend to clash more than any other age group. 

One of the biggest points of contention is each generation’s differing approach to the workplace – especially when it comes to work ethic and what we should expect from our salary-paying roles.  

According to recent trends and surveys, gone are the days when a regular salary was enough to make up for long hours, mind-numbing tasks and toxic workplace culture. Now, Gen Z is becoming more focused on prioritising their mental health and happiness over financial reward or their career trajectory. 

But while the intentions behind Gen Z’s wellness-centric approach to their careers put their health above all, career experts are becoming increasingly worried about the long-term ramifications that ‘taking a back seat’ could have on their futures. 

Depending on which generation you belong to, it’s likely you take a particular approach to using up your annual leave. Older Aussies – from Baby Boomers to Gen X – often struggle to book out their total number of days, choosing instead to power through the calendar year as a symbol of their loyalty and dedication to their role. They’re often seen clocking in early, staying later than their salary covers, and answering out-of-hours comms from their colleagues and managers without hesitation. 

Younger Aussies, however, are taking a different stance when it comes to their career expectations, with some even jumping aboard the ‘micro-retiring’ trend in protest of workplace pressures and expectations.

What is ‘micro-retiring’?

In addition to booking out all their rightful annual leave days, Gen Z workers are choosing to extend their holidays, claiming lengthy breaks throughout the year are imperative to their mental health. In a nutshell, the mindset of giving a job everything you’ve got has been replaced with a desire to rinse a role of all possible benefits, taking prolonged sabbaticals in your youth.

“Instead of waiting until you were 60 or 70 to travel the world … you do them [while] you have your youth, your energy, your health,” explains serial micro-retirer and content creator Adama Lorna.

With more young workers ditching the gruelling hours and expectations of their corporate jobs for a more laid-back approach, it appears Gen Z is hitting back at the rising rates of burnout. 

“[Micro-retiring] does empower individuals to take more control in their lives,” psychologist Dr Christopher Fisher tells People. “Being able to reduce burnout, take necessary breaks, return to other commitments that they have, and then, maybe eventually return back with great rejuvenation, renewed focus, renewed energy, can allow people to feel more productive and well-rounded and fulfilled personally.”

The real cost of micro-retiring

But alongside the obvious benefits to mental health, experts are worried that taking too much time off during the early stages of one’s career could have detrimental effects on their career trajectory and financial position later in life. 

Prolonged breaks come at the expense of a worker’s consistency and structure, two crucial pillars of career growth and success. “I think someone could lose motivation, they could miss out on opportunities if they don't have that sense of stability and structure that helps to keep people focused and on track,” says Fisher. 

If you are going to try out the micro-retiring trend, the US-based psychiatrist suggests using your time away from work wisely, filling it with activities and commitments that replenish your energy and well-being.