Lazy girl jobs & the soft life
Insight, resources & actionable advice
“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
– Dolly Parton
The 9-5 singer really does have a point. Nobody wants to be chained to their desk 24/7 in order to earn lots of money without having spare time to spend – right?
Some Gen Z’s are doing something about it; opting to give up the grind to make room for an easier, less-pressured lifestyle. All things considered, it sounds pretty appealing.
Introducing ‘lazy girl jobs,’ the newest workplace slang that’s doing the rounds on TikTok, thanks to Content Creator, “Anti Work GirlBoss”.
The influencer says the key to happiness is finding a low-stress, fully remote job which takes up less headspace, whilst (and this is crucial) still offering a decent salary.
The shift in priorities comes as a confident new generation enters the working world. They care more about their mental health than pleasing “the man.”
They’re tired of the never-ending influx of emails, ridiculously tight deadlines, and demanding bosses.
Instead, they’re seeking new employment opportunities that require less, for a work-life balance that heavily favours the ‘life’ element. Sounds fairly reasonable to us.
What’s more, ‘lazy girl jobs’ come hand-in-hand with another new phenomenon: the pursuit of a ‘soft life.’ This is a movement that’s reframing ‘the concept of “success” to center rest and renewal instead of an endless rapid hustle’ (ELLE). You can read our founder & CEO’s thoughts on this in The Guardian.
What’s driven this change in attitude towards work?
Perhaps the distinct lack of interest has been influenced by pop culture. ‘Consider the films and TV shows that millennials were spoonfed growing up: Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, The Devil Wears Prada, Legally Blonde,’ says The Guardian, ‘these were stories about high-flying, stressed yet sexy women who dared to “have it all”’.
Now, movie plots are rarely about the rat race: ‘Young people are more interested in shows such as Euphoria, The Last of Us and Sex Education, in which interpersonal dynamics are prioritised over anything related to careers.’
The emerging mindset is also thought to be a result of a major cultural shift. People Management says ‘post-covid, the uncertainty of the cost-of-living crisis, climate anxiety, all combine to make us really reassess our values and priorities.’ The pandemic certainly proved it possible to work fully remotely, and many are not willing to give up their flexibility.
What about ‘lazy boy jobs’ you may ask? It seems that, for now at least, this is a solely female-dominant movement. ‘Perhaps the concept of men being paid more to do less isn’t quite as novel or interesting’ argues The Guardian. We can’t help but agree.
What does this mean for HR? And what can you do?
Though HR teams needn’t worry that they’re about to lose all their young workers, we wouldn’t recommend ignoring the problem. ‘The arrival of the “lazy girl job” means being clear on what “enough” is for a role to be successfully delivered.’ (People Management)
Great expectations: Ensure that you communicate clearly with your team about what is expected from your employees in terms of performance and roles & responsibilities.
Trust the process: Employees want autonomy. If your company allows for flexible hours and remote working, trust your staff that they’ll get the job done from wherever they are. Believe us, you’ll be rewarded in the long run.
Nobody likes change, but it’s inevitable: There’s no denying that the post-pandemic working world is a completely different landscape - and who knows what else might change in the future. The key to running a successful business is being open to feedback and adapting to whatever obstacles come your way.
Make open junior roles align with values: Folks entering the workforce now place high importance on environmental and social good, and don’t glorify long hours. Appeal to this mindset by showing off your culture and values.
For more information, visit our Insights page.