"Cheating” at work is on the rise: 95% of Gen Z and millennial workers say sleeping on the job, using AI is acceptable

William Koblensky Varela
·5-min read

Cutting corners at work is not exactly a new concept, but technology and hybrid schedules have certainly introduced some new ways to go about it.

Take the admission this one Reddit user shared on a subreddit dedicated to computer system administration, for example. In a posting titled Closet ChatGPT user at work, the Reddit user admits to using artificial intelligence (AI) on the job and attempts to find solace with other CSA professionals.

“Just wondering how many of you secretly use ChatGPT at work and what you use it for?” wrote the Reddit user, who goes on to explain that their employer seems to be thrilled with the results. “I just let work think I'm a genius, but the topic of ChatGPT has never come up, lol.”

Hundreds of comments from systems administrators confirmed that they, too, use ChatGPT for generating code, as well as ideas on how to fix other problems at work. But, as it turns out, using AI on the job is just one of the many ways Gen Z and millennial employees are "cheating" at work.

According to a survey conducted by PapersOwl, 95% of American respondents between 18 and 34 years old said using company software for personal use, leaving early, and sleeping on the job were completely acceptable in today’s work environment. The most common types of employee rule-bending were clocking out early (34%), lying about being sick (27%), showing up late (18%), “quiet quitting” (16%), and using AI on the job (14%).

More than half of the survey’s respondents also admitted to "quiet vacationing" — taking time off work without telling their boss — at least three times over the past year. The reasons for the unsanctioned time off were mostly due to burnout or limited availability of paid time off (PTO), PapersOwl found.

Perhaps even more interesting, nearly one-third of respondents said they had career catfished in the past year, meaning they showed up to a job for one day before disappearing without providing any communication to the employer. In fact, one in five career catfishers did so on a dare, according to the survey.

There’s also the rising phenomenon of coffee badgers: employees who show up just to get their attendance noted for that day before leaving the workplace early. More than one third of respondents (36%) said they’ve pulled off the coffee badger maneuver up to 10 times in the last year.

With the advent of hybrid schedules and work-from-home safety measures, bending the rules at work has become a lot easier to pull off in recent years. But the popularity of such rule-bending maneuvers among millennials and Gen Z employees is fairly alarming.

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According to PapersOwl, a whopping 95% of millennial and Gen Z respondents find workplace cheating to be acceptable in today’s work environment. Many respondents cited mental health as the reasons for their transgressions, but the motivating factors can vary.

What’s particularly interesting is how PapersOwl’s survey highlights a shift in workplace expectations and work-life balance in today’s hybrid, work-from-home arrangements.

The stigma around “cheating” at the workplace seems to be decreasing, but that doesn’t mean young workers shouldn’t be careful. After all, losing your job because your employer is unhappy with your behavior is likely to be much worse for your mental health than simply showing up on time.

Young workers would be wise to exercise caution when cutting corners at work. For example, if you want to use AI on the job, try developing an AI best-use protocol with your manager to determine when the company is comfortable with you using the tool and how you’ll go about using it. Doing this will create transparency with your boss and could help you avoid the anxiety of worrying about doing something wrong.

Instead of workplace catfishing or coffee badging, try sticking it out at your current job until you can find a workplace that offers the kind of job flexibility you’re looking for. Ghosting your new employer, or showing up at the office just to take attendance, is not a great way of expressing your dissatisfaction with the company’s flexibility.

Similarly, quiet vacationing is certainly a good way to get noticed for the next round of company layoffs. Instead, start looking for a workplace that offers better PTO benefits, or less of a workload, so that you’re not sneaking vacation time under your boss’ nose.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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