A manager in Singapore has sparked discussion online after sharing her struggles with managing younger employees, claiming that some Gen Z workers were quick to label bosses as “toxic” or “micromanaging” when given feedback.
In a TikTok post dated May 24, Sabrina, a 35-year-old chief marketing officer, said she had found it difficult working with some employees from Gen Z, which generally refers to those born between 1997 and 2012.
As a manager in Singapore, I’ve let go of more Gen Zs in the office than I can count,” she wrote.
Said some were late & could not finish tasks
According to Sabrina, some younger employees would arrive up to an hour late for work and fail to complete their tasks, while still asking to work on personal projects during office hours.
She added that giving feedback often felt like “walking on thin ice”, even when she tried to phrase her comments professionally and gently.
You can just tell that they take it personally, and before you know it, they stop talking to you during breaks, ignoring your presence, and being hostile to you,” she wrote. “Even as managers, we deserve a safe working environment too.”
Sabrina also claimed that when some employees were let go, she avoided giving the real reasons directly as she feared they might spread rumours and affect team morale.
Ex-employee allegedly insulted bosses online
Speaking to Stomp, Sabrina recalled one incident where a younger employee allegedly became hostile after being dismissed over punctuality issues and incomplete work.
She claimed that the employee later ran a Telegram channel accusing the company’s higher-ups of being “controlling and micromanaging”.
According to Sabrina, the employee also allegedly called the bosses “fat”, “old”, and “creepy”, with one remark aimed at a colleague who liked wearing bright dresses.
However, Sabrina clarified that not all Gen Z employees were like this.
She said she had also worked with many good Gen Z employees and interns who took ownership of their tasks and helped older colleagues understand TikTok memes and online trends.
Netizens divided
Sabrina’s post has since gained more than 234,000 views and 6,300 likes, with many netizens weighing in on the issue.
