First, there was the “great resignation,” then there was “quiet quitting,” and now the trend is “lazy girl job.” Some Generation Zs and millennials have embraced the lazy girl jobs concept.
Is this an anti-work philosophy? Many claim it’s a rebellion against high-pressure work that leaves little time for personal life. Others claim the next generation doesn’t want to work, but insists on large salaries. But what is a lazy girl job, and how did this trend start?
‘Lazy Girl Job’ and No Pressure Work
A lazy girl job is one that can be accomplished in the standard 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. timeframe. The tasks aren’t demanding, but the salary is lucrative.It also has easygoing managers. And the job is devoid of the traditional manager who applies pressure to get the work down on a timely basis. It comes down to rejecting the American hustle culture that has always been part of a career path. These employees aren’t convinced that buying into the hustle-bustle system is the way to advance.
These jobs usually pay between $60,000 and $80,000 without the pressure of working outside the designated hours.
The lazy girl job is usually remote or hybrid and offers a balance between work and personal life.
This is a rejection of the “Girl Boss” trend that permeated social media previously. Girl Boss is a woman that wants to be their own boss through self-employment or corporate ladder climbing.
‘Lazy Girl Jobs’ Phrase Coined on Tik Tok
In a Gallup survey, 23 percent of U.S. workers said they were not engaged with their work, while the remainder said they were doing the bare minimum, or “quiet quitting.” Lack of a balanced work/life seems to be the culprit for the dissatisfaction.
Gabrielle Judge, a career influencer on TikTok, coined lazy girl job in May 2023. Although she knew the phrase had a negative connotation, her goal was to spark a conversation about balancing personal life with a toxic workplace.
She promoted the concept of low-stress jobs that still paid well.
Reaction to Quiet Quitting
Part of the lazy girl job phenomenon is a reaction to the “quiet quitting” trend. Quiet quitting is the act of slowly quitting a job by just not doing it.Both the quiet quitting and lazy girl job rebel against work interfering with personal life. You can call it work/life balance or slacking off, but both terms are used to explain the new trend with Gen Z and millennial employees.
COVID Spurred Need for More Personal Time
When people first returned to work after the shutdown, 23 percent expressed discontent with their job. Twenty-six percent said it was harder to balance work and family responsibilities.And now more than half of workers are dissatisfied with the balance between work and personal life.
Many Gen Zs are leading the charge to have it all with comfortable salaries and more personal time.
Outing a Lazy Girl Job
TikTok is a place for many Gen Zs and millennials to talk about their life. Many employees went on TikTok to speak about their lazy girl job. But is it wise to tell the world you’re in one?Ms. Judge warned many employees not to go on TikTok to brag. Retaliation from a boss was possible. She referred to it as “corporate snitching.”
Pros of Lazy Girl Jobs
A work/life balance is the most significant benefit of a lazy girl job. But it’s subjective and comes down to priorities. While some people want traditional items like a house, vacations, and private schools for children, others wish freedom to do what they want.A lazy girl job offers more flexibility and control without the hustle culture. Gen Zs are more interested in personal growth, mental and physical well-being.
Cons of Lazy Girl Jobs
Career progression is the number-one con of the lazy girl job trend. This is especially true if you flaunt the fact you have one. But career progression may not be the ultimate goal for a Gen Z or millennial.An employee who isn’t invested in their job may lose in the process. If the Gen Z or millennial wants their work to be meaningful, they must identify their contribution beyond just tasks. Not doing this makes the work seem futile and could contribute to dissatisfaction.
Lazy Girl Job Work/Life Balance Boring
A lazy girl job may be the choice for some Gen Zs and millennials, but some young people still strive to advance in their careers. The girl boss phenomenon is still prevalent among ambitious women.But Gen Zs and millennials should also be aware that although they have more free time, with a set schedule, non-stressful tasks and calm monotony, a lazy girl job could also become boring.
The Epoch Times Copyright © 2023 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
