Gen Z and the Loneliness of Remote Work
Gen Z, the youngest generation in the workforce, is feeling increasingly disconnected from their colleagues due to the rise of remote and hybrid work models. A recent study highlights how this generation feels left behind by the shift towards working from home, which has been embraced more by older generations.
The post-pandemic work environment has introduced a new normal where many employees now work remotely or in a hybrid setup. However, for Gen Z, this change has led to feelings of loneliness and anonymity among their peers. They miss out on casual interactions such as water cooler conversations and after-work drinks, which were common in traditional office settings.
According to the research, 78% of workers aged 18 to 28 who work from home or in a hybrid model prefer returning to the office, either full-time or part-time. This is significantly higher than other age groups. In contrast, nearly three-quarters (74%) of Baby Boomers, who are 60 years or older, do not want to return to the office if asked. Similarly, 62% of Gen X, aged 44 to 59, and 55% of Millennials, aged 29 to 43, also resist a return to the office.
This research was conducted by Thrive, an AI e-learning platform, as it launches its new product called Thrive Hub. The platform aims to provide a personalized learning experience that connects all work systems, apps, and workflows for employees.
One of the key features of Thrive Hub is Spaces, a social community engine designed to help employees stay connected regardless of their age. This feature is intended to foster a sense of belonging and teamwork among colleagues.
Thrive, recognized as one of the fastest-growing UK tech companies in 2025 by the Sunday Times, introduced its new Learning Management System (LMS) at the Thrive Live event in London on December 3.
Social Aspects of Work
For Gen Z, the desire to return to a traditional office environment is driven largely by the social aspects of work. More than two-fifths (44%) of young Brits say they miss out on office gossip and chats, which is more than double the rate of other age groups. The highest rate among other generations was 19% for Gen X.
Additionally, 44% of Gen Z feel ‘anonymous’ or ‘less visible’ due to their current remote or hybrid work setup, compared to just 16% of Millennials and Gen X, and 7% of Boomers. Two-thirds (67%) of Gen Z feel ‘disconnected’ from colleagues, which is much higher than the rates reported by older generations.
The sense of disconnection was felt by a third (34%) of Gen X but less than a quarter of Millennials (23%) and Boomers (22%). A third (33%) of Gen Z feel less well-known to their peers than before the introduction of remote work, compared to a quarter of Gen X (26%) and Millennials (25%), and just 17% of Boomers.
Moreover, more than half (56%) of Gen Z feel that working from home means they miss out on spontaneous social moments like grabbing lunch with a colleague or going to the pub with office pals. This ‘FOMO effect’ of remote work is felt by twice as many Gen Z individuals as other age groups, with the highest being Millennials at 25%.
Motivations for Returning to the Office
When it comes to work itself, 22% of Gen Z say their biggest motivator to return to a full-time office setup is to ‘collaborate more effectively with colleagues.’ This sentiment is not shared by older generations, with the highest being Gen X at 11%.
Cassie Gasson, co-CEO of Thrive, stated: “The pandemic sparked a workplace revolution – WFH has been a real game-changer for millions of Brits balancing life and office demands. But, this response from the youngest members of our workforce has been loud and clear; they’re feeling left behind and isolated by the new setup.”
She added, “For most, working from the office was just the done thing, so the associated networking and social elements are simply taken for granted. While we can’t turn the clock back, at Thrive we’ve worked to develop new systems to make every business and every employee feel connected and more part of a team.”
Gasson concluded, “That’s why we’re so proud that our customers will benefit from our new Hub and Social Spaces on Thrive. It’ll be used by millions of workers, connecting teams and colleagues in ways never seen before.”