They’re saying “hasta la pasta” to traditional email signoffs.
Gen Zers are bringing a more laid-back attitude to the workplace, evident in the clothes they wear and how they communicate — and their emails are no exception.
TikToks with millions of views show younger workers have moved away from ending their emails with “sincerely,” “best” or “let me know your thoughts.” Instead, they’re opting for casual closers such as “lukewarm regards,” “see yas later,” or “alright, alright, alright” — and igniting a discussion over professionalism in the workplace.
A video posted by Chicago-based athleisure company Fox & Robin, entitled “It’s a Gen Z world, I’m just their millennial boss,” showcases some of these email signoffs — “Let me know if you have any questions! Or don’t” — in a clip with more than 17.4 million views.
“I think it resonated so much because people are tired of the corporate pleasantries and feel inauthentic [responding] in an enthusiastic manner [when they’re not],” Tommy Flaim, the 29-year-old founder of Fox & Robin, told The Post.
“We’re all human, we’re not robots, so I think people found it refreshing to be able to talk more freely while still getting the work done,” he added.
Still, he noted that it “differs when we’re talking to a potential investor or potential retail partner [who are often] baby boomers or people from different generations that don’t necessarily appreciate the more candid [and] silly emails.”
Some commenters on his post were certainly not amused.
“This can’t be true,” one said in disbelief.
“Not gonna work, I would never take you seriously,” chimed in another.
The shift to a hybrid workplace are making written communications more conversational, said Amy Spurling, the CEO of Compt, a software company based in Massachusetts.
“Everybody’s trying to bring their whole selves to work, but it’s still through a computer screen, so [casual communication] is just humanizing each other a little bit,” Spurling, 45, told The Post, adding she’s embraced Gen Z’s informal email style.
Others said traditional emails are going the way of the fax machine as more people crave personal connections with fewer opportunities for face-to-face chats.
“Often, when you are more casual, it shows that you care more — not only about the work, but the person on the receiving end,” said Celine Chai, 24, a co-founder of the LA-based creative agency NinetyEight.
Brian Lowery, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, examined multi-generational workforces in a recent podcast episode of “Know What You See.” The takeaway? Each generation brings their own style to the office.
“I find that the work gets done in a very high-quality [way],” Edwin Ochoa, the director of partner operations at media company PRX, said on the podcast when asked about Gen Z. “Perhaps the way to get it done is different, but the end result is still the same.”
Besides, in a world of cluttered inboxes, who has the time to slog through a formal email?
“I just am not going to read a book-length email … [that] has a ‘Warmest wishes’ at the end,” Spurling admitted. “So keep it short. If you put emojis in it, great — I’ll totally respond to that.”