How Gen Z likes to communicate at work

Email is Gen Z’s favourite way to communicate at work — not because it’s efficient, but because it helps them manage anxiety and avoid awkward conversations.

A new survey from ZeroBounce reported that 60 per cent of Gen Z professionals use email to sidestep uncomfortable workplace interactions. For many, it’s not just a tool but more of a buffer.

Women are even more likely to lean on email this way, with 65 per cent saying it helps them set boundaries and maintain a sense of control at work.

ZeroBounce surveyed nearly 1,400 Gen Z professionals across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Europe.

Despite growing up with instant messaging, Gen Z is twice as likely to prefer email (42 per cent) over platforms like Slack or WhatsApp. And when it comes to real-time communication, they’d rather pick up the phone (7 per cent) than hop on a video call (2 per cent), underscoring their preference for low-pressure, asynchronous channels.

But this reliance on email may be masking deeper issues. Clinical psychologist Dr. Catherine Wikholm suggested Gen Z’s email habits could be a form of “avoidance coping,” a short-term strategy to reduce anxiety that may actually make it worse over time.

“Avoiding direct communication prevents them from building up their tolerance for anxiety,” she explained in the report.

The emotional toll is already showing. More than half of Gen Z workers (53 per cent) say email stresses them out, and 92 per cent admit that email overload is hurting their productivity.

Part of the problem may be that many are still learning how to use email professionally. According to the survey, 57 per cent aren’t sure how formal their emails should be, 51 per cent don’t know when to follow up, and 26 per cent are confused about CC vs. BCC.

Even emojis are a grey area, with 14 per cent not sure if they’re appropriate in work emails.

The report also highlights gender differences in how Gen Z communicates and what they value at work. While both men and women cite work-life balance as their top career motivator, men report slightly higher email anxiety (55 per cent vs. 52 per cent) and are more likely to prioritize making a meaningful contribution. Women, on the other hand, place more value on company culture and recognition and are more likely to see email as a safe space.

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