Gen Z workers—people born between 1997 and 2012—grew up with access to technology that their older co-workers didn't. Due to that leg up, some Gen Zers may experience pressure when colleagues expect them to easily navigate technological issues in a phenomenon known as tech shame.
According to HP's Hybrid Work: Are We There Yet? report, based on a survey of 10,000 people, one in five young office workers said they feel judged when having technology issues. In comparison, only one in 25 older workers felt the same. That shame makes younger employees less likely to ask for help or to participate in meetings if they think the technology would cause a distraction.
Tech shame applies to all forms of technology, new and old. In its fourth annual Anatomy of Work Global Index, Asana found that some Gen Zers have also been stumped by more obsolete forms of technology, such as fax machines and scanners. The report shows that young workers may develop imposter syndrome when working with older technology with which they aren't familiar.
