The business world has always been fast-paced, with trends and innovations constantly reshaping the corporate landscape. A fairly new trend that has been making waves, not just on social media but also in the workplace, is the 'lazy girl jobs' phenomenon. Anyone hearing this label for the first time will most likely be surprised. After decades of celebrating busyness, it seems hustle culture has been cancelled in 2023. Let’s take a closer look at this new, seemingly counterintuitive development.
What exactly is the lazy girl job trend?
The originator of the lazy girl jobs label is Gabrielle Judge, who calls herself an ‘anti-work girlboss’. Initially emerging on TikTok in May 2023 and garnering significant attention, the lazy girl job trend challenges the conventional approaches to work ethic and productivity that we have become so accustomed to. Human Resources Director magazine considers the lazy girl job concept a new iteration of the quiet quitting wave – i.e. the refusal to go the extra mile and go above and beyond at work, according to the University of New South Wales.
As reported by NBC News, we are seeing a shift in work culture towards prioritising work-life balance and mental wellbeing over traditional notions of relentless productivity. Popularised on social media platforms, this trend encourages individuals to share stories of relaxed or unconventional work setups that allow them to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while still bringing home a good salary.
In essence, lazy girl jobs are a response to the burnout culture that’s been haunting the corporate world for so long. Mostly members of GenZ, ‘lazy girls’ are no longer interested in the girl boss culture that millennial women fell so hard for and are even pushing back on it, reports News.com.au. The new generation of female workers don’t want it all; they want less and they’re not afraid to voice their opinion. Gone is the urge to work long hours and give in to incessant corporate demands with minimal downtime. The constant busyness to which we had become so accustomed – and even addicted, according to SmartCompany – is no longer being glorified.
What a lazy girl job is not
Due to the – somewhat satirical – name of the trend, lazy girl jobs have been reduced to interpretations of job seekers looking for mere copy and paste jobs and wanting to do as little work as possible. However, this isn’t the case. Lazy girl job advocates expect a role that pays well, offers a good work-life balance and doesn’t overwork them – and there’s nothing lazy about that! If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that flexible working is possible without compromising on productivity. In fact, healthy, happy workers are more productive than their stressed, overworked peers, says the Great Place To Work® Institute.
What’s more, it isn’t just female workers who want to focus on a more holistic approach. The quest for reasonable work-life balance certainly isn’t limited to any particular gender. In fact, new Gartner research has found that work-life balance remains a driving force when employees of any gender are deciding whether to stay in their current role or move on.
Australia’s take on lazy girl jobs
When it comes to lazy girl jobs, Australia is no different to many other countries around the globe. In 2023, a significant number of professionals are chasing roles that offer a healthier work-life balance. These jobs, often part-time or remote, are touted by the ‘lazy girls’ as low-stress yet lucrative, promising an escape from the traditional 9-5 grind of previous generations. This trend certainly didn’t stop at Australian shores. Indeed Hiring Lab Senior Economist Callam Pickering even speaks of Australia’s ‘love affair’ with working from home. Post-pandemic, many employers have also caught on to this new trend and are offering remote or hybrid working arrangements.
For Australian companies, the lazy girl jobs trend presents both challenges and opportunities. With mental health and wellbeing coming to the fore, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, employees are increasingly vocal about their needs and expectations. Indeed's 2023 Workplace Wellbeing Report found that fewer than one-in-four (23%) respondents are thriving at work – remarkably, that's the exact same number of Australian workers who confirmed that they are 'very likely' to look for a new job in the next 12 months (23%), alongside a staggering 50% who are 'likely' to do the same. Reasons given include wanting better pay or flexibility, having poor mental health or not feeling recognised for the work they do.
What's more, the Black Dog Institute reports an increase in stress and anxiety levels amongst Australian employees – and that, if someone powers through even though they’re not feeling 100%, this will lead to lower levels of productivity. According to their Workplace Wellbeing Fact Sheet, in Australia alone, poor mental health at work is estimated to cost the economy between A$43 billion and A$70 billion. All the more reason for employers to take heed!
What can employers do?
The lazy girl jobs trend is typically characterised by flexible, autonomous and value-driven work (think remote roles, gig jobs or passive income), and a minimalist, value-aligned lifestyle. And employers are faced with the question if, and how, to adapt to this new model. To attract and retain top talent, many companies are already prioritising flexible working and employee wellbeing.
Specific actions may involve revising HR policies, investing in technology and building a culture of recognition and trust. It might be time for organisations to focus on results over work hours, so implementing tailored flexible work policies and shifting to outcome-based metrics may be the way forward. After all, Gallup’s 2023 State of the Workplace Report found that employee wellbeing boosts workplace productivity.
Another aspect – that goes without saying – is that investing in mental health support is crucial for employee wellbeing and work-life balance, as confirmed by an Edith Cowan University study. In addition, to equip employees for the evolving work landscape, offering training in digital and remote collaboration tools is another important consideration for organisations. By adopting these strategies, companies can navigate evolving workforce trends effectively.
To be or not to be… lazy
The 'lazy girl jobs' trend isn’t a fleeting phenomenon but rather a reflection of shifting workplace dynamics. For Australian companies, tackling this trend isn’t just about mitigating a challenge but about evolving with the global workforce’s changing psyche. Adopting a strategic, empathetic and flexible approach can turn this trend into an opportunity to enhance employee well-being, productivity and, ultimately, corporate resilience.
