GenZ and Millennial leading the way for opening at Work: LinkedIn

Showcasing emotions at workplaces had stigma associated with it but the scenario has changed quite a bit. The world’s largest online professional network, LinkedIn has released new research uncovering how professionals are expressing themselves at work post-pandemic.

According to the research, more than 3 in 4 (76%) professionals in India feel more comfortable expressing their emotions at work.

LinkedIn has also seen a shift with a 28% rise in the public conversation on the platform post-pandemic.

Because of the hybrid model of work 9 in 10 (87%), staff agrees that showing emotions at work has made them more productive and boosted feelings of belongingness.

Over time employees have become more vulnerable, with nearly two-thirds (63%) admitting to having cried in front of their boss – a third (32%) having done so on more than one occasion.

Though in spite of the openness of emotions, the stigma still persists as 7 in 10 (70%) professionals believe there is a stigma around sharing feelings at work.

Therefore 27% of employees in India are still worried about wearing their hearts on their sleeves out of a fear of looking weak, unprofessional (25%), and being judged (25%).

For women, it’s always been worse everywhere and at workplaces too there is no difference, as almost 4 in 5 (79%) professionals agree that women are often judged more in comparison to men when they share their emotions at work.

But the newer generations are much more open to expressing and sharing their emotions. GenZ (73%) and Millennials (79%) are leading the way and expressing themselves.

Indian professionals believe humour is essential for a good work environment and, 3 in 5 (61%) professionals would want to see the use of more humour in their workplace.  But 56% of employees consider it unprofessional. Despite these mixed reviews, 9 in 10 (90%) professionals in India agrees that humour is the most underused and undervalued emotion at work

This survey is based on 2,188 professionals in India.