Common workplace phrases that Gen Z struggle to understand

Joining the workforce for the first time can be daunting, but Gen Z are on the back foot with the youngsters struggling to get a grasp on everyday work slang.

As Gen Z enter the workforce, there is a language barrier forming between them and their older colleagues, according to new research.

More than four in 10 Gen Z workers don’t know the meaning behind common workplace phrases such as “bite the bullet” and “back to the salt mines”.

The study – from visualisation platform Rethinkly – discovered that those under the age of 26 are more comfortable with language such as “quiet quitting” and “take this offline”.

Younger workers don’t understand what their older colleagues are on about. Picture: iStock

Other phrases that Gen Z are struggling with include “cut the mustard”, “flogging a dead horse”, “throw in the towel” and “burning the midnight oil”.

“Let sleeping dogs lie” and “what’s the beef” also made the list of phrases that Gen Z didn’t understand.

Digital designer Laurence Brand, 22, from London said he was interviewed by a panel of people in their 50s.

“They were great, but they kept saying things I’d never really heard before and I had to bluff my way through the interview for the most part,” he told The Sun.

“One asked what I’d do if another worker didn’t ‘cut the mustard’.

“I must have looked a bit blank until they told me that it means someone who wasn’t performing well.”

‘Cut the mustard’ was one saying Gen Z’s drew a blank on. Picture: iStock

Lawrence said he was lucky to get the job, but there was at least a decade between himself and the next person nearest to him in age.

He said sometimes he had no clue what his older colleagues were talking about.

Andrew Jackson, who is the co-founder of Rethinkly, said that most challenges in the workplace stem from poor communication.

He added that communication challenges correlate directly with things such as morale, commitment and productivity.

Originally published as Common workplace phrases that Gen Z struggle to understand