Gen Z is bringing pen and paper back to the workplace
Gen Z workers are increasingly adopting analog tools like paper notebooks and sticky notes to combat digital fatigue in the workplace. This trend is being recognized by retailers as a way to personalize office spaces and improve focus.
Why it matters
The shift suggests that despite the push for AI and automation, there is a growing demand for tangible, low-tech tools to improve employee well-being.
Oscar Wong/Getty Images Gen Z workers are embracing analog tools for personal office spaces amid rising digital fatigue. A retailer survey revealed they prefer handwritten notes and premium office supplies. Personalized workspaces with analog tools make return-to-office mandates more appealing for some. As companies spend billions on AI in the race to automate work, a surprising office trend is taking hold among the youngest generation of employees. Gen Z workers are embracing the decidedly low-tech: premium notebooks, colorful desk pads, handwritten notes, and the humble Post-it. Gen Z office workers told Business Insider about the importance of carving out a personal space in increasingly standardized workplaces, and it may offer employers a clue for making return-to-office mandates easier to swallow. "A space that I can call my own, I think, is very important," Jessie Lei, a human resources professional, told Business Insider.
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