Office small talk dying out as Gen Z workers would rather chat online, survey finds
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THE art of office small talk is dying out because younger workers feel more comfortable communicating online, according to research. A poll of 2,000 employed adults found 74 per cent struggle to make light conversation with co-workers in the kitchen or lift.
![[Three colleagues eating lunch together in a break room.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-research-revealing-963623610.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Nearly half of those (48 per cent) admit to using WhatsApp, Teams or email because it's more convenient - even if they are sitting near the recipient. Overall, 27 per cent say they are more comfortable communicating online than in person. But this is more pronounced among younger workers as 40 per cent of Gen Z feel this way, compared to 33 per cent of Millennials and 24 per cent of Gen X.
![[Three coworkers in an office kitchen, one looking perplexed as the others check their phones.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-research-revealing-963623006.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The research also revealed 40 per cent of young adults said it’s ‘like learning a new language’, due to being more familiar with remote and flexible working. It also emerged 27 per cent feel sorry for office ‘newbies’ who’ve never had to master the art of workplace chit chat – with 41 per cent of Gen Z, aged up to 28, believing this.
![[Three colleagues at lunch in an office, one looks concerned.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-research-revealing-963623759.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Anna Beheshti from Tilda, which is looking to encourage two minute ‘micro chats’ with microwavable pot and pouch lunch options, said: “Anyone who’s worked in an office can relate to this. “With hybrid working now the norm, we don’t get the same daily practice in social interactions as we used to when most of us were in the office full time.
