A few months ago, many of us were introduced to what is known as the ‘Gen Z Stare.’ This phenomenon occurs when somebody born between the years 1997 and 2012 and works in customer service hits you with a certain look. It’s a vacant expression that this era apparently gives customers or people asking a question. Now, a New York woman is frustrated by Gen Z workers in general. She claims that they aren’t “socialized” enough to give proper customer service and explains her reasoning on this.
Muay (@muaythaimusings) posted a TikTok on some of her recent thoughts being around Gen Z workers. She says she tries “so hard to not be a Karen” but she’s frustrated with Gen Z’ers lack of socialization that starts early in their lives. She said a lot of modern kids working in customer service have severe “social deficits” that hold them back. Muay herself is 27 and has worked several customer service jobs over the years.
Muay says, in her experience, she doesn’t care if people are talking to co-workers, sitting, or engaged in other activities while working. But she is a bit disoriented by the fact that Gen Z workers are so inept. It makes them come off as rude in the workplace. In the end, she thinks it’s just a “lack of social skills.”
For example, she said she dealt with a Gen Z worker who didn’t have a lot of experience. They clearly couldn’t answer any of the questions she had. She said they were generally not confident answering questions and had to confirm things with several other workers. Muay said the young worker didn’t really have any answers for her. Instead, she chose to deadpan her, going completely silent during their conversation about her order. She claims that she’s seen this many times in customer service and is afraid for that generation’s lack of social skills and what it could mean for their futures.
According to one commenter on Muay’s video, “The literacy crisis also extends to not being able to read a room or a situation. There is a genuine discrepancy in curiosity and problem solving.” Another pointed out, “I hate when the worker just stares at me when I walk up. Like you don’t have to say hi but can you at least indicate that you’re ready to take my order?” Gen Z’s social-related issues could stem from anything, from a rise in bullying to low self-esteem or just feeling generally lonely at home. No matter what the cause, it’s a strange reality that so many people have noticed and experienced.
