Gen Z Workplace Habits: Streaming During Work HR’s Next Challenge

It’s getting harder and harder to defend Gen Z’s workplace habits every day. A new survey from Tubi and The Harris Poll found that 84% of Gen Z were steaming at work to finish watching a show or movie while working from home. Reminding us of the many work-from-home distractions that send fear coursing through the hearts of employers, the study suggested that 52% didn’t want to return to the office because they will be unable to stream during the work day.

The young professionals’ work habits are often under scrutiny, and streaming while working puts a deep, dark slash against their names and their hireability. “Fauxductivity” at work is not new—everyone is guilty of having pretended to have a busy day every once in a while just to avoid being tasked with more. However, Gen Z and their workplace focus has been a matter of concern repeatedly over the years, and the new reports of Gen Z streaming at work only make matters worse. 

Is there a case to be made for letting these Gen Z workplace habits go unchecked?

Are Gen Z’s workplace habits the problem, or do we have a larger problem of disconnect between employers and employees? (Image: Pexels)

Concerning Gen Z Workplace Habits May Require HR Supervision

Yes, according to the study Gen Z, workers are streaming shows at work. More specifically, 84% of Gen Zers admitted they were streaming content while working from home. Around 53% of them admitted to putting off work to finish a show they were binge-watching, and 52% of them explained they didn’t want to return to the office because it would put an end to their streaming days.

From the study, 54% admitted to streaming while working only as a way to have some background noise as they worked, but it’s hard to look at this as anything but a distraction. Obviously, these Gen Z workers claimed that they wouldn’t admit to these habits if their boss ever confronted them about it, but with the layoff numbers the way they’re looking, we wouldn’t either. 

We’re the first to show support for work-life balance trends and their importance in the workplace, but these new Gen Z workplace habits may be pushing it too far.

Is It Okay to Overlook Gen Z Streaming at Work?

Many cases have been made for allowing workers to operate in a way that’s most comfortable for them in order for them to be productive. The matter of listening to music at work has already been a controversial one for years now for the same reason. Some workers just need to block out chattering coworkers or family members, and some just need a distraction from their own thoughts to work without a hitch.

Gen Zers wouldn’t be the first to showcase workplace habits that thrived on blocking the world out with empty noise, but the workplace is not ready to make room for streaming while working. While some claim to use streaming while working as background noise, we have to acknowledge the Gen Z workers who stated they were putting off work to finish their shows first.

While we know just how addictive it can be to watch the latest episode of Severance as soon as it is out so you make a funny Twitter/X post about it first, it ideally shouldn’t be a priority while working. Making the most of our many subscription services cannot come at the cost of compromising on the work that guarantees we can afford it. 

Not only do these Gen Z workplace habits affect the workers’ productivity, but they also make employers more mistrustful of their workers. 

Is There a Growing Problem of Fauxductivity at Work?

“Fauxductivity” sounds like a fun new trend, but it is a reference to the false illusion of productivity at the workplace. It isn’t new and isn’t a Gen Z-exclusive phenomenon, but it is a growing problem. Some workers indulge in it because they’re afraid of being penalized for having a workday relatively free of tasks, while others do it to prevent being assigned new tasks. 

Hustle culture has taught employers that breaks are bad, however warranted they are, and so workers choose to create an illusion of being busy to keep up with the times. If Gen Z’s workplace habits are allowing room for streaming, then either their work tasks are not as pressing or the system needs some fixing.

Are Work-from-Home Distractions to Blame for Changes in Productivity?

Employers have been disdainful of remote work right from the get-go, and they have good reason to be if workers are busy with streaming while working. Work-from-home roles come with many distractions, whether it’s their beds calling to them for a quick nap or the home environment presenting their daily challenges. Unfortunately, in-person work also comes with a fair share of distractions that have to be acknowledged.

Employers might be interested to know that Gen Z’s streaming tendencies aren’t limited to working from home. Almost two in five Gen Z workers admitted they managed to stream content from their workplace as well. 

Does this mean employers need to start surveying and micromanaging their employees every second to guarantee productivity? That has never successfully worked before, and it’s unlikely to be the solution to unpleasant workplace productivity trends.

Remote work is not the final boss to take down—the problem lies much closer to home.

HR Teams Need to Address Gen Z Workplace Habits

In 2025, employers are more than willing to fire their Gen Z workers, and they have admitted to avoiding hiring from the group ever again. This puts the burden of responsibility on workers to prove that they can work and keep things professional and productive while on the job. While organizations can leave it at that and choose not to spend too many resources on Gen Z and their workplace focus, it is not a permanent solution.

These workplace productivity trends aren’t the end of the world. As the nature of work evolves, so will the challenges, and at the end of the day, they can all be overcome. HR teams that understand these young professionals and their work habits will be the first to benefit from the skills and insights they bring to the workplace. 

• Embrace flexibility with clear communication of expectations: Remote work is not the problem, but if there are greater concerns surrounding productivity at home, employers need to take charge and set some clear ground rules.
• Set clear goals for daily tasks: Workers need to have realistic goals for their everyday tasks that are not so unreasonable that they start faking productivity to avoid them.
• Conduct check-ins and progress updates: Employees who need to regularly interact with colleagues and managers and provide updates on their work won’t have time to binge-watch shows. Make this a productive interaction rather than one of policing them.
• Allow time for breaks and downtimes: Realistically, no one can keep working for hours at a stretch. Allow workers, whether in the office or remotely, to take breaks so they don’t start having to hide taking a few minutes to themselves
• Track productivity and results: While we won’t ask you to encourage Gen Z to start streaming at work, it also isn’t the time to start penalizing them. As long as the work is done on time and done well, you do not have to micromanage how they reached the results
• Embrace work-life balance trends: Workers need to be allowed to log out on time and disconnect from their work so they can enjoy their personal lives. The better the company is at allowing this, the fewer reasons they will have to start streaming at work or focusing on other tasks
• Enhance engagement at work: Workers who are disengaged from their work are likely to find distractions. Create genuine interest around work so employees have more enthusiasm for staying focused
• Reward results and productivity: When good, timely results are appreciated, Gen Z workplace habits might naturally evolve to seek out more of that appreciation. 
• Conduct training on professional workplace behavior: If Gen Z workplace habits are of concern to you, conduct regular training on what the expectations are during work hours. A general reminder may work better than a targeted firing
• Understand the generational differences: Young professionals may have odd work habits, but so does every other generation. Instead of fighting them to change, try and work along with workers to determine what works best.

These new Gen Z workplace habits may appear to be outlandish, but we’re certain they aren’t the only ones giving in to temptation and distraction. Work-from-home distractions are a concerning topic, but workers can be equally unproductive in an office if the organization doesn’t step up and give them a reason to care. Workplace productivity trends are made to be studied, and understanding them is the first step to helping your organization succeed.

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