WANA ( Jun 1st) – They show up to job interviews in jeans, don’t bring a printed résumé, and within five minutes, they’re already asking if your company supports mental health days. If you’re an old-school manager expecting loyalty, obedience, and gratitude, Iran’s new workforce might just confuse you—or drive you up the wall.

But make no mistake: they’re not lazy. They’re just done pretending.

 

Welcome to Work!

 

Unlike their parents, who often clung to one job for decades, sometimes purely for survival, Iran’s Gen Z and younger Millennials are reshaping the concept of “work.”

 

They want flexibility. They want purpose. And yes, they want a workplace that doesn’t feel like a 1980s military barracks.

 

“I quit after three weeks,” says Mina, 24, a digital content creator in Tehran. “The job was boring, the boss micromanaged everything, and we had to clock in on paper. Paper!”

 

For many in this generation, meaning matters more than money, and a micromanaging boss is a dealbreaker.

 

The Interview Flip: “Why Should I Work for You?”

 

One HR manager in a Tehran tech startup shared this: “I was interviewing a 26-year-old for a mid-level position. She asked me how often we have team-building activities and what we do to prevent burnout. I was stunned. Ten years ago, people just begged to be hired.” It’s not arrogance. It’s a value shift.

 

Today’s job seekers don’t just want to get in. They want to know:

  • Will I grow here?
  • Will I be respected?
  • Will my time be valued?

 

They’re interviewing the company back, and if your office still runs on outdated rules and toxic hierarchies, they’ll ghost faster than you can say “probation period.”

 

A New Set of Tools!

Ask around, and you’ll find plenty of young Iranian professionals managing entire teams using Notion, ChatGPT, and voice notes on Telegram. They value efficiency and autonomy, not chain-of-command politics.

 

 

Loyalty Has an Expiry Date

Long gone are the days of working 15 years just to earn a plastic award and a raise that barely beats inflation.

 

Now? If a job doesn’t offer growth, respect, or some version of work-life balance, young Iranians are quick to job-hop or go freelance. “There’s no job security anyway,” says Shadi, 25. “So why should I sacrifice my mental health for a company that can replace me in a second?”

 

The Generation Gap Is Real

Older employers, many of whom weathered war, sanctions, and economic chaos, sometimes misread Gen Z’s attitude as lazy or entitled.

 

“Some of them don’t even want to show up in person!” laughs a 45-year-old office manager. “They say the work can be done remotely—but how can I manage someone I don’t see?” But this disconnect reveals a clash of work cultures, not values. One generation was taught to survive; the other wants to thrive.

 

So, What Happens Next?

Workplace culture in Iran is at a crossroads. With the economy pushing young people to work more for less, but their mindset pushing back against burnout and bad management, something has to give. The smartest companies are already adapting:

  • Hybrid work models
  • Mental health check-ins
  • Transparent communication
  • Respect for time off

 

“I just want to be trusted,” says Niloofar, 23. “I work hard. Just don’t treat me like I’m replaceable and lazy.”

 

So..

They’re not looking for a boss. They’re looking for a mission.  They’re not lazy. They’re intentional. And if the system doesn’t catch up soon, these bright minds will find a way to work around it—on their own terms.