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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A new report has revealed that young workers are most likely to respond to work-related messages or emails out of hours, making them leaders in a so-called "always on" work culture.
According to the 2025 Impact of Technology on the Workplace Report by Tech.co, younger business leaders—aged between 25 and 34—are more likely than their older counterparts to blur the boundaries between work and personal time.
An expert told Newsweek why that trend may be occurring and warned of the pitfalls of not disconnecting.
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An overwhelming 93 percent of Gen Z and young millennials said it was "appropriate" to contact colleagues who are on vacation for urgent business matters.
This trend extends to their own habits as well, with 89 percent of Gen Z and young millennial leaders admitting they feel obligated to respond to work-related queries while on vacation.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,036 U.S.-based senior executives and managers, found that younger leaders were the most likely to contact colleagues on vacation.
By comparison, 87 percent of older millennial leaders (35-44 years old) said they would reach out for urgent matters. While only 86 percent of leaders aged 45-54 agreed and 83 percent of baby boomer leaders (55-64 years old) said they would do the same.
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These findings challenge the stereotype that younger generations are more inclined to prioritize work-life balance. In the past year, hiring managers have even spoken out about refusing to hire younger workers altogether, citing lack of work ethic, lack of motivation and poor communication skills as reasons they wouldn't hire Gen Z.
But this new survey suggests that Gen Z and young millennials in leadership roles may be reinforcing a culture that expects employees to be reachable at all times as they feel the pressure to be "always on" at work.
Stephanie Reitz is a Director of Client Services at myHR Partner told Newsweek: "For many Gen Z and young millennial professionals, truly disconnecting during vacation has become increasingly challenging. The digital workplace, digital tools and work-from-home culture have blurred work-life boundaries by keeping everyone 'easily' connected 24/7."
Reitz explained that behind the desire to stay connected to work are fears about falling behind, job insecurity among a backdrop of increasing layoffs and guilt about leaving other teammates to pick up work.
But she explained that taking meaningful time off is essential for both personal and professional health: "Always being on and constantly checking in on vacation isn't healthy. It presents professional and personal challenges. Time off is meant for rest, recharging, and stepping away from work stress," Reitz said. "Cognitive recovery deficit occurs without meaningful breaks from work-related cognitive demands, and mental fatigue becomes inevitable. Without real breaks, performance can deteriorate, productivity dips, and job satisfaction suffers—not to mention the impact on personal relationships."
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