Gen Z and Millennial Workers Put in 8 Hours of Unpaid Overtime Every Week: Report

What do Gen Z and older employees have in common? Pessimism about getting a raise this year, according to a report released Wednesday.

The workforce data and insight organization ADP Research Institute found that about half of workers aren’t holding their breath for recognition at work — an attitude employers may want to change, given the tight labor market and the fact that Gen Z is putting in a lot of extra hours for no pay.

From a corporate perspective, having folks put in extra hours for free may seem like a sweet deal. But in truth, ADP wrote that it might "prove short-sighted." We've entered a new era for the workforce — workers have gained power since the pandemic, and ignoring employees’ achievements (and after-hours hustle) could come back to bite employers.

Many workers today have advantages like remote work, pay transparency laws and a tight market on their side. Companies are quickly realizing they’ll have to meet their employees and potential hires halfway to find and keep talent.

“Vital skills and potential could be lost if workers think they can get higher pay elsewhere,” ADP wrote in the report, adding that Gen Z may not feel quite so motivated to put in unpaid hours in the future without getting the recognition they deserve (read: raises and bonuses, not pats on the back or Cheesecake Factory gift cards).

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