You’ve probably seen it. A customer says “Hi,” asks a question, and the Gen Z retail worker returns a blank No smile. No acknowledgment. Just a deer-in-headlights moment. Millennials call it rude. Gen Z says it’s just a rational pause. Welcome to the “Gen Z Stare” turf war.
What It Looks Like
On TikTok, the viral look gets replayed in coffee shop and restaurant skits. Think: asking if a strawberry‑banana smoothie really has banana in it, and hearing crickets. Or a cashier silently staring after you say “thank you.” That blank, wide‑eyed look. It’s coolly dubbed “the stare.”
Why People Complain
Many millennials and older generations see it as a lack of soft skills. Customer service isn’t purely transactional, it’s connection. And this silent treatment feels like disengagement or worse, passive-aggression. Some see it as a sign of declining workplace etiquette.
Beyond annoyance, there are real workplace concerns. Employers and managers note that budding Gen Z employees often struggle with face-to-face communication, faltering at basic courtesies or conversational flow. That stare shows up at work, and it’s sparking worries.
What’s Behind It
1. Byproduct of Pandemic Isolation
Campuses shut. Remote learning became the norm. Physical interaction? Rare. That has left many Gen Zers navigating social situations with more anxiety and fewer rehearsal moments. No wonder a simple question triggers a blank response.
2. Information Processing vs. Rudeness
Some Gen Zers push back: the stare isn’t disdain, it’s processing. A TikToker told a customer asking, “Does it have banana?”
“I’m just processing the stupidity”and shrugged with that unruly stare. It’s less about reaction, more about internal buffering.
3. Generational Payback
Normal people do “small talk.” But Gen Z? They call it “fake.” The stare is shorthand: “I’m not playing along.” And some argue millennials started it too, like with the “millennial pause.” So, it’s payback.
What the Experts Say
Psychologists urge calm. It’s not a new phenomenon for a generation to seem aloof or socially awkward early in their careers. Remember when Boomers complained about the “slacker” millennials? Same script, different players.
Some experts view it as a real signal: an opportunity to teach soft skills, empathy, and social fluency. Instead of mocking, they suggest training and mentorship to fill professional development gaps. In addtion, managers can show they care by giving Gen Z handpicked employee gifts.
Fueling the Bigger Picture: Gen Z’s Tough Job Launch
None of this is occurring in a vacuum. Gen Z is entering an absolutely brutal job market: 58% of grads hunting for full-time roles, and nearly 40% thinking of quitting and going on benefits. The student-to-work pipeline is broken. Many believe employers require experience that entry-level workers simply don’t have.
Now add AI disruption to the mix. Entry-level roles are evolving or disappearing. That leaves Gen Z juggling rough starts, remote isolation, and social strain. And yes, bearing the blame for a stare they didn’t ask for.
So What?
For managers: Be kinder. That stare is a sign of processing, anxiety, or uncertainty—not disrespect.
For Gen Z workers: Learning to mirror friendliness can matter. Small talk is optional, but simple acknowledgement builds trust.
For everyone: Recognize this tension as a teachable moment. Instead of scolding, coach. Instead of judging, guide.
This Gen Z stare may fade. But it’s a snapshot of bigger workplace shifts: pandemic memory, evolving expectations, and future-of-work growing pains. In the end, we’re all learning (and teaching) as work norms shift under our feet.