Copyright Forbes
Why would an employee get a kick out of watching a coworker fail? A new research study shows that the trend of “fail watching” is rising in the workplace among Gen Z. In the past, the younger generation has been hit with many accusations that have deeper meaning than the snap judgments others make from what they see on the surface. Now, experts explain what’s behind the Gen Z trend of “fail watching.” ‘Fail Watching’ Is A Real Phenomenon As defined in the Urban Dictionary, “fail watching” is a real phenomenon, similar to people watching when watchers are waiting for someone to mess up. The Germans have a name for it, known as "schadenfreude," which means pleasure derived by another person’s misfortune. Scientists have shown through research that seeing others fail is self-affirming. Why? I have written for Forbes.com about “tall poppy syndrome” when coworkers criticize, penalize or tear you down because of your success. Similar findings with ”fail watching" indicate that another’s misfortune may be pleasing because it satisfies people’s concern for a positive self-view and a sense of self-worth. If you’re like most people when a coworker is doing better than you, then you see him fail, you feel less inadequate. You might have even felt it before when someone else couldn’t perform a task or reach a goal you had in mind. Or perhaps you observed a rival colleague blunder the promotion you were gunning for, and you felt better about yourself. You feel more a part of the workforce and less of an outsider. These reactions are human nature--nothing to feel shame or guilt about. MORE FOR YOU What’s Behind The ‘Fail Watching’ Trend Among Gen Z? In the past as Gen Zers entered the workplace, 45% of hiring managers labeled them as the most challenging generation to work with. The younger workers are criticized for having too many rules, refusing to comply with corporate demands, being oppositional and lacking etiquette, reliability and flexibility. Are Gen Zers as difficult as people say? Gen Z argues that they possess unique perspectives and skills that could be interpreted as healthier or more creative and productive. They push for greater flexibility, work-life balance and living healthier than the traditional “work-until-you-die” labor styles of previous generations. Quiet covering and the Gen Z stare are just two other examples of how Gen Z has been unfairly vilified because of their seemingly blank, disengaged expressions. Gen Z workers are more than twice as likely as boomers to conceal parts of who they are at work, with 56% mentioning that they do this even in conversations with HR. Nearly half of Gen Z report hiding mental health challenges, self-care habits or past experiences to project a strong professional image so they’re more promotable. Experts explain the Gen Z stare as a self-protective response to workplace norms that can feel emotionally demanding. And now the results from a recent EduBirdie survey, showing that 34% of Gen Z secretly enjoy seeing others fail could be misinterpreted. On the surface, the findings sound harsh and can be used by Gen Z haters to vilify them even more. But career experts insist that there’s a reasonable explanation. Gen Zers feel validated when they see a coworker fail, which is exactly what the body of research finds for most people of all ages. According to the researchers, the 34% statistic reflects what they’re doing is difficult and that not everyone can match that level of determination. Experts believe Gen Z “fail watching” is on the uptick because the younger generation is stepping into a challenging work culture. In today’s job market, the ride to success is more challenging as employers tighten their budgets, restructure behind the scenes and continue quiet layoffs, like Amazon’s recent cut of 14,000 jobs. Productivity expert, Avery Morgan, CHRO at EduBirdie, warns that Gen Z “fail watching” and the data that 74% of Gen Z report at least moderate stress is a clear sign of burnout. “Gen Z is trapped inside a 24/7 performance loop: grades, careers even hobbies are public," Morgan explains. "When you hold yourself to impossible standards, watching someone else stumble becomes a subconscious way to confirm you’re not the only one struggling. It’s not cruelty, it’s plain self-defense.” Morgan shares practical ways Gen Z can break free from the “always-on” spiral and start softening their relationship with imperfection–from keeping an “imperfect wins” log to time-boxing social comparison. 1. Name your perfectionist alter ego. Morgan suggests giving that hypercritical inner voice a name. “Perfect Patty is a classic, but the CEO of Control will do as well,” she says. “When it starts nagging, saying ‘Oh, that’s just Patty again’ turns self-criticism into something you can observe, not obey. It separates you from the pressure.” 2. Keep an “imperfect wins” log. Morgan advises you to start noting moments when doing something messy, late or half-baked still works out, like a presentation that wasn’t flawless but landed anyway. She points out that seeing the proof on paper rewires your brain to trust genuine effort over polish. 3. Do something you’re bad at, on purpose. Morgan recommends picking a skill that doesn’t feed your ego such as pottery, improv or pickup soccer. Then let yourself be cringe. She notes that practicing failure in a low-stakes space teaches your nervous system that imperfection isn’t fatal, just freeing. 4. Time-box your self-comparison. “If scrolling for social comparison is part of your routine, don’t ban it,” Morgan states. “Schedule it instead. A 10-minute window a day to spiral guilt-free will do. The act of containing comparison turns it from a background noise into a conscious habit, and once it’s conscious, it loses power.” She predicts that eventually, you’ll find yourself skipping it altogether. A Final Takeaway On ‘Fail Watching’ Achieving career success in today’s job market is so challenging that “fail watching” has become a coping strategy for Gen Z to make sure they’re doing okay. But it can fuel misunderstanding and snap judgments from others and perfection on the part of Gen Z. "Perfectionism just makes you fear you’ll never be enough,” Morgan concludes. “The only way to fight it is to make peace with the messy middle. And that’s where real confidence starts: quiet, grounded and totally human.”
