Bringing Life to Work (and Expecting the Boss to Carry It)

Once upon a time, work was simple. You rocked up, did your job, and left your personal drama at the door. Clock in, clock out, rinse, repeat. Easy. But those days? Dead and buried.

These days, the new generation doesn’t just bring skills and fresh ideas to the table—they bring their whole life. And yep, that includes all the baggage, the stress, and the venting. And here’s the kicker: they expect managers to handle it. All of it.

We’re seeing a serious power shift. It used to be “the employer sets the rules, you follow them.” Now? Employees feel like they can ask for anything—mental health days, flexible schedules, life advice on the side—and expect it to happen. Hard work? Effort? That seems optional.

Don’t get me wrong, supporting mental health and wellbeing is absolutely crucial. Invisible disabilities, ADHD, anxiety—these are real, and workplaces need to be understanding. But somewhere along the way, the line between “reasonable accommodation” and “everything I want, whenever I want” got blurry. And for managers, it’s exhausting. Suddenly you’re part boss, part counsellor, part human Swiss army knife.

The reality is, workplaces are shared spaces. They’re not personal playgrounds where your manager’s job is to make your life stress-free. They’re places where effort, responsibility, and accountability still matter. Bringing your full self to work is fine—expected, even—but expecting your manager to carry the whole load? That’s a different story.

And let’s be real—sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s frustrating. A millennial or Gen Z staff member might roll in stressed over a breakup, vent for an hour, and then drop a casual, “So… can I work from Bali next week?” Managers are left nodding politely, wondering when they became unpaid life coaches.

So how do we make this work? For starters, clear boundaries. Support your team, but know your limits. Encourage openness, but reinforce accountability. Recognise that everyone’s mental health matters—but effort and contribution still count.

The workplace of today isn’t about the manager calling all the shots anymore. It’s a balance. Managers adapt to support their teams, yes—but employees also need to step up and remember that work is work. Life comes with baggage; work comes with responsibility. Both can coexist, but one shouldn’t completely carry the other.

At the end of the day, this new workplace dynamic isn’t a disaster—it’s an evolution. It just means everyone has to learn a bit of give-and-take. Managers can support without burning out, and employees can bring their whole selves without expecting a free therapist. Sounds fair, right?

Because let’s face it, we all want a workplace that’s human—but humans still need to do their bit.