Work-life balance who? A TikToker, corporate commentator, and podcast host has been forced to apologize after scolding a Gen Z worker for turning down their boss’s early morning meeting request in order to work out.
“Corporate Natalie,” a host on the workplace podcast Demoted, read out an email she was sent from a scorned boss who complained that their “Gen Z new hire” declined an 8 a.m. meeting because it clashed with their prebooked fitness class.
“When asked to come in for an 8 a.m. meeting my Gen Z new hire said, ‘Ugh, sorry can’t make it I have a workout class,’” the podcaster read out, in the now-deleted video. “Should this be allowed?”
Corporate Natalie, whose real name is Natalie Marie, sided with the boss and slammed the young worker. The incident has gotten social media denizens so riled up over who is in the wrong that she’s been forced to delete the original video and apologize.
Marie’s ‘I don’t give a flying sh-t’ comment didn’t fly
Perhaps unsurprisingly, declaring that she didn’t “give a sh-t” about the Gen Zer’s fitness class didn’t fly with TikTok’s predominantly young user base.
“You just started this job. I don’t give a flying sh-t about your workout class,” Marie said. “Also, an 8 a.m. workout class is too late. Workout at 6, maybe 7.”
As another TikToker, Alexandre Evidente, pointed out in a popular reaction video from the perspective of the new hire, employees shouldn’t be expected to forgo outside-of-work commitments at the drop of a hat.
“I go to the gym. I work out because I care about my health,” he said. “Let’s just say I skip the gym. Two things. When can I expect you to reimburse me for my class? And two, are you going to be paying me from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.? Or at the very least let me leave at 4 p.m.?”
In a follow-up video, Evidente added: “Employers need to understand we all have commitments outside of work…I made that video to empower people to speak up for themselves and set boundaries at work.”
Others commented that the podcast host is out of touch and that people shouldn’t have to work outside their contracted hours.
“Gen X here. We’ve been brainwashed into giving our souls to employers. Good on Gen Z for putting their mental health first,” one user commented.
“I used to tell my employees, ‘I don’t want to’ is a valid reason when I had to ask them if they could work outside their schedule,” another added. “Your boss does not own you. Your off time is YOUR time to do with as you please.”
Apology video misses the mark
Since then, Marie has made an apology video.
“We get a lot of heat and rightfully so—it was getting vicious in the comments,” she said, adding that the new hire who is a consultant with estimated $100,000 salary was made aware of the quarterly 8 a.m. meeting before taking the job.
“This is for a salaried employee,” she added. “If you are hourly or you work a job that’s strictly nine to five, please do not work outside those hours—you’re not getting compensated for it and that’s not worth it.”
But many TikTokers still think Marie’s missing the point: “I’m confused as to why salaried employees are expected to work for free outside of the contracted hours?” one user commented.
Another added: “Girl where do you work? In most places it says the hours and if you go beyond that, it’s your prerogative.”
Others echoed that being a salaried employee doesn’t equate to being at the beck and call of your boss.
Young people care about work-life balance
It’s not the first time that the youngest generation of workers has come under fire for being demanding, always late, and “not busting their behinds” quite like older generations.
But it’s clear that they don’t care. Having a life outside of work is just as important (if not more important) to them as building a career.
Research has consistently shown that this generation will turn down offers from employers who don’t align with their values and walk out of jobs that don’t grant them the flexibility they desire. They would even rather work multiple jobs than one with traditional rigid hours, to better accommodate their out-of-work passions.
