Bosses are firing Gen Z grads just months after hiring them—here’s what they say needs to change

Fortune ^ | 3/10/2026 | Orianna Rosa Royle

[simpson96]

After complaining for years that Gen Z grads are difficult to work with, bosses are no longer all talk, no action: Now they’re rapidly firing young workers who aren’t up to scratch just months after hiring them.

The numbers are stark. According to a survey, six in 10 employers admitted they had already sacked the Gen Z workers they had hired fresh out of college.

Intelligent.com, a platform dedicated to helping young professionals navigate the future of work, surveyed nearly 1,000 U.S. business leaders. It found that the class of 2024’s shortcomings are shaping how bosses hire next—and it’s not good news for future grads.(snip)

So where is it going wrong for fresh-faced graduates?

Employers’ gripe with young people today is their lack of motivation or initiative—50% of the leaders surveyed cited that as the reason why things didn’t work out with their new hire.

Bosses also pointed to Gen Z being unprofessional, unorganized, and having poor communication skills as their top reasons for having to sack grads.

Leaders say they have struggled with the latest generation’s tangible challenges, including being late to work and meetings often, not wearing office-appropriate clothing, and using language appropriate for the workspace.

Now, more than half of hiring managers have come to the conclusion that college grads are unprepared for the world of work.

[SisterK]

where you thrived and let yourself be known and earned your reputation

earned your reputation
I think you hit the nail on the head
another price we pay for Shame no longer governing our culture
thank the liberals

[MotorCityBuck]

Too funny.

The HR department is root of all evil at times.

My current position I was already hired for by my previous employer from another company. He said all I had to do was contact the HR dept. and get the paperwork done.

The gal called me every day because she couldn't understand why I wasn't selling my home to relocate to the office out of state.

She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that only an idiot would sell their residence, purchase a new residence for a “Start-Up.” LOL. Then to your point. You have to spend hours and days explaing your resume to them. Just forward it to the dept. manager.

[drwoof]

Well done!

Amazing how many people seemingly have zero familiarity with these basic concepts.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

It happens when a new generation comes along and thinks they are hot $#!T but are really just Cold Tu*d.
My daughter worked at a major Chain store office for over 25 years. They hired in a new fresh out of college idiot and made him boss.
He immediately began to find reasons to terminate the employment of the older better workers.
My daughter was terminated but found another similar job.

[Savage Beast]

"poor communication skills":

Among other things, scorn of grammar contributes. You see this everywhere. Correct pronouns, sentence structure, and the rest of grammar are sine qua non for effective communication.

In high school and junior high, I ridiculed diagramming sentences; but in the work place, where effective communication was essential, I found myself teaching my secretaries how to diagram sentences.

"being late to work and meetings":

In the woke world, being on time is considered "white supremacy".

The morons who make this argument are too stupid to understand that it's an argument in favor of "white supremacy."

"using language appropriate for the workspace":

I recently demanded that a younger man stop saying the word "f-ck" in talking to me and that he stop saying it in the presence of his children.

He replied, "I say the f-word a lot."

My response: "Well don't.

This man, by the way, is covered with tattoos and body piercings and does not have a regular job.

[lastchance]

Thanks for your reply. That clears my speculation right up.

[lastchance]

My favorite advice to people looking for work. “Show up on time or earlier.” “Dress with respect for the job and the people you work with.” “Consider your job description to be “As told.” Now that helps get you in the door and put you in a good entry or probationary situation. To advance workers would be well advised to learn everything they can about the company they work with and the responsibilities that go with different titles. To not be afraid to approach management with suggestions you believe could be helpful. You will be seeing things with a fresh eye and that can be very useful. The so called chain of command is really a tool to keep you in your place.

On a snide note always, always find out who the office bi*#% is. Every work place has one and he or she should be avoided as much as possible.

[madison10]

I think so.

[Justa]

I wouldn’t work for that company either. And I started working W-2 jobs in June, ‘74 at 11 y.o. Back then ppl used to mouth off to each other and fight much more frequently then. Less ‘rules from management’ too.

Need to increase laws against cell phone recording ppl so the hysterics and rage-baiters no longer profit.

[MayflowerMadam]

We were working picking crops for the local farmers when we were 14 and could get a Work Permit.

When we were older and school wasn’t in session, we were working two jobs.

The current Gen Z losers are the fault of the parents.

My nephew has three daughters, ages 16, 14, and 10. Their mom never asks then to help with dishes, set the table, etc. They’re curled up on the sofa, glued to devices.

Now our neighbors have two teenage boys. They’re hers from a prior marriage. She flipped her lid when her husband told them to mow the lawn. She doesn’t want them ‘doing those kinds of jobs”. (They do no jobs.)

[wardaddy]

Entitlement

I notice they believe crosswalks in Nashville at night in dark clothes are such

They just assume the world turns on their dime

I’m like you still need to look before entering foolio

It’s just wise

[wardaddy]

An incredible number do just that as your pics show

[wardaddy]

Worst thing about being under 35 is the women

I’m living it as a parent

I wish my boys had the girls I had 72-88 to learn from and have experiences with

[stevio]

A company I contracted for a couple years ago. Young guy right out of college, for technical management or something, used to walk around with ear buds in and oblivious to anything around him. Mom & dad did buy him a hot Honda sports car for graduation. Wonder how he’s doing?

[gnickgnack2]

Lombardi Time

If you’re not 15 minutes early, you are late.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

My opinion as a former employee, as a former manager and current business owner is that a good half of the problems with finding and keeping employees is HR. Just have a payroll and benefits department.

Let the department managers decide what they need and let the department secretary write the ad and sift the responses.

It would be a lot cheaper and faster.

[Alberta's Child]

The scenario you describe there was an epic failure on the part of everyone involved — HR, the job candidate, and (most of all) the “boss” you described. If I was the CEO of that company I would take two immediate steps:

1. Demote (or fire) the “boss.”

2. Fire the entire HR department and start from scratch. Staff-level HR personnel who have no subordinates would be permitted to re-apply for their jobs under the new HR leadership.

[MotorCityBuck]

Completely Agree.

[Labyrinthos]

“Here’s a clue for GenZ to help them out on the employment front.

Try being 15 minutes early.”

As my parents taught me and I taught our children, unless you own the business, you should be the first person to turn the office lights on in the morning, and the last person to turn them off at night. And bad weather is not an excuse to stay home, but a reason to get up earlier and build extra time into the commute.

[Political Junkie Too]

I was 14 when I had my first job (cash under the table) delivering dry cleaning for two hours after school to residents in my apartment building in Manhattan (two 35 story buildings and one 70 story tower). Sometimes would have to take the garment rack out onto the streets to make deliveries in building's several blocks away.

When I was in high school in Florida, I worked in a three-screen movie theater (a big deal back then) until I graduated. Nothing says "being on time" like a movie theater.

-PJ