A new ‘anti-work’ movement led by Gen Z women is taking TikTok by storm with influencers boasting that they get paid well for doing the bare minimum.
A host of young women on the social media platform have coined the term ‘lazygirljobs’, referring to stress-free and menial office jobs that include doing very little work and no challenges, but for a comfortable salary, and all from the comfort of their own homes. .
The #lazygirljobs hashtag has gone viral on TikTok with millions of viewers and self-proclaimed ‘lazy girls’ revealing how easy their work life is.
This TikToker told her followers that all she does is copy and paste and she gets a good salary
A British TikToker gave people advice on how to make money by being someone’s virtual friend
This young woman described her role as a ‘lazy corporate job’
‘Love me a lazy girl job,’ said one TikToker: ‘All I have to do is copy and paste the same emails/documents, 2-4 phone calls a day, take a break whenever, listen to my podcast, everything as long as I get a good salary.
TikToker Alisha Nainu told her followers that she loved her ‘lazy girl job’. “I sit at a desk from 9 to 4 and post bills in my spare time and can read or watch Netflix or TikTok and get paid a decent hourly rate.”
Jack Kellam, senior editor at the progressive think tank Autonomy, said stunned “It seems to be part of a reassessment of the workplace within one’s broader life that has been particularly pronounced among the younger generations after the peak of the Covid pandemic.”
But Liz Villani, the founder of BeYourselfAtWork, warned against the trend, telling MailOnline: “The ‘lazy girl jobs’ trend is another throwback stereotype that damages the reputation of certain roles, women in the workplace and , ultimately, the role of work in all”. of our lives.’
Explaining the meaning behind the hashtag, Gabrielle Judge, who is said to have instigated the trend, told her followers: “It’s called lazy jobs, not because we’re lazy.” It’s a dig against the hustle. She said the term ‘lazy’ was thrown in there for marketing purposes, but it’s all about having a work-life balance.
A TikToker post from the ‘raeandzeebo’ account shared a video of her sitting in front of her computer with the caption ‘Lazy girl jobs are my favorite all I do is copy and paste the same emails I get 3 or 4 calls a day, take my extra long break, take more breaks AND get a good salary.’
Another, named Mari, posted a video of herself with her knees up looking relaxed at her desk.
She said: “Me at my lazy girl job who has no dress code, let me wear nails, pay me every Friday, take all the breaks I need and leave when I’m done for the day.”
Another wrote: ‘Lazy girl jobs are my favourite. I read clients’ mail, mail maps, take breaks when I want and get paid well with great benefits.’
A British woman named Genna posted a video giving advice on a job “you can do if you don’t have money and you’re lazy.”
And this is probably the laziest job I’ve ever come across. You can be paid anywhere from $50 to $100 dollars a day to be someone’s virtual friend. ‘
He also told his ‘UK friends’ about a company that hires people to test mobile apps for $25-$35 an hour.
Another posted a video of herself dancing to music with the caption, “I get paid to do basically nothing.”
And another said ‘working in the shop on Sundays getting paid for doing absolutely nothing because there are no customers’.
This worker takes breaks when she wants and receives a good salary with benefits
Genna said that money can be made by testing mobile apps and offering advice to her followers.
Gabrielle Judge said the term ‘lazy’ was included for marketing purposes, but it’s all about having a work/life balance.
writing for him guardianauthor Daisy Jones said: “These are the post-pandemic 20-somethings who spent their teens witnessing the rise and fall of the girlboss and, disillusioned with the hustle culture and resulting burnout, would rather take home a solid monthly salary and enjoy the life”. within the parameters possible under capitalism.
“At a time when the creative industries are becoming almost impossible for sections of the working class to enter, why not simply focus on having an easy life, while finding meaning and satisfaction in life outside of professional stress?”
Ms Villani, founder of BeYourselfAtWork, told MailOnline: ‘Work can give us purpose, confidence and a sense of belonging. Framing it as something to be avoided or minimized undermines the value work can add to your life.
‘The trend is also decreasing certain job roles for no valid reason; Home-based marketing or administrative jobs require skill, time, and talent, and succeeding in them requires a positive attitude. Highlighting them as the roles best suited to ‘lazy girl jobs’ insults entire sections of the working population.’
She added: “Anyone considering the ‘lazy girl’ attitude towards work should think again, just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it’s true or has substance.” She needs to ignore the push to be lazy spreading on TikTok, assess what interests her professionally, and find a role that appeals and excites her and then be her best in it.
A British worker tells her followers she “gets paid to do basically nothing”
This British worker says she gets paid to do nothing in retail because there are no customers
This TikToker Claims She Gets Free Coffee While Copying And Pasting Emails
Commenting on the trend, Mr Kellam said: “For those who have larger life circumstances that they are involved in and that bring them satisfaction, then less ‘satisfying’ work may be much less of an issue.”
‘If one has access to the necessary ‘social capital’, and can still have enough energy to pursue their interests and passions ‘after work’, then spending eight hours a day on ‘bull’ tasks may be perfectly tolerable. For others, it could still be a nightmare.
Lizzie Tasker, director of human resources and marketing for Ambitions Personnel, said that this last phrase coined on TikTok could hit the nerves of many.
“Of course, it’s nothing new to suggest that some jobs require less effort than others, and it’s not limited to any specific demographic holding them, it’s not limited to ‘girls,’ which could be detrimental to women. in the workplace, especially younger women just starting their careers,’ she said.
“However, what it does speak to perhaps is a rebellion against ‘hustle’ culture and the idea that success means pushing yourself to (or coming close to) exhaustion.
“It might actually be a better strategy to work smarter, not harder, recognizing that work is just one element of your life and that success can be different for everyone, regardless of gender.”
Jasmine Eskenzi, founder and CEO of productivity and wellness app The Zensory, argued that what really highlights the ‘lazy girl work’ trend is that people want, and choose, to prioritize their well-being, emotionally and physically, over work and in their spare time. time.
“It’s not really about being lazy, it’s about prioritizing jobs where you can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
“It’s about preserving your energy for other things, maybe hobbies or spending time with the people you love. This coincides, more generally, with a change in work attitudes among young professionals. Lazy girls jobs are all about balance and boundaries.
And health and wellness coach Phillippa Quigley thinks the trend actually offers a valuable new perspective.
While acknowledging the name is “misleading,” the expert said it’s not really about laziness, but rather “defies traditional job expectations, especially for women looking to escape overwork and burnout, all-too-common pitfalls.” nowadays’.
