A new career trend is gaining traction among Generation Z, and it’s got a name that’s as bold as its message — “being professionally mean”. But before employers and HR professionals panic, it’s worth looking closer at what this viral advice actually means and what impact it might have on workplace wellbeing.
The phrase, which is circulating widely on TikTok under the popular hashtag #CareerTok, isn’t about hostility or rudeness. Rather, it’s part of a broader shift in how younger employees are redefining professional boundaries and advocating for themselves at work. According to data, around 70% of Gen Z turn to TikTok to help guide their career decisions — giving the platform significant influence over how the youngest members of the workforce are shaping their attitudes to work.
The phrase itself comes from a viral video by TikTok career coach and influencer @Emrezkalla, which has racked up over 360,000 likes. Her message? To get ahead in your career in 2025, you’ll need to stop trying to be liked by everyone and start being more assertive, direct and confident in your communication.
Start by practising being “professionally mean” in low-stakes situations, Em advises. She suggests setting clearer boundaries, being upfront about your limitations and asking deliberate, well-structured questions like: “How can we make this more efficient? I suggest we do X, Y, Z.”
She adds that while some people define workplace success by how well-liked they are, the reality is that not every colleague will respond positively to assertiveness — and that’s something professionals need to accept if they want to progress.
This isn’t the first time Gen Z has sparked headlines with their workplace approach. Earlier trends like “Bare Minimum Mondays” and “Task Masking” have made waves by challenging traditional expectations of productivity. Experts say that collectively, these movements indicate a generational push for balance, self-protection and a smarter approach to work.
But how well does “professional meanness” hold up in a real workplace setting? Is it a smart way to draw boundaries — or a potential flashpoint for conflict?
From TikTok to the Office: What Career Experts Say
Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach at job platform career.io, sees value in the advice — but warns that the terminology could easily be misinterpreted.
“What Em is really advocating for is assertiveness — encouraging professionals to speak up, set boundaries and engage in healthy conflict at work,” she told Workplace Wellbeing Professional.
She says that assertiveness, when expressed with empathy and clarity, can be a powerful driver of innovation and better team performance. “That said, it’s not just what you say but how you say it. You don’t need to be a people-pleaser, but being rude won’t help, either. You can — and should — stand by your ideas while maintaining positive working relationships.”
Augustine stresses that communication doesn’t need to be abrasive to be effective. As an example, she suggests rephrasing disagreement with a phrase such as: “I see it a little differently — can I share another approach?” This allows professionals to express their opinions without creating a combative tone.
A Balancing Act for the Workplace
For HR leaders and wellbeing professionals, the key takeaway is that younger employees are increasingly looking for ways to assert themselves in workplaces that can often reward passivity or silence. But it’s vital that such behaviour is underpinned by respect and emotional intelligence.
“Being professionally mean,” then, is not about meanness at all — but about reclaiming one’s voice at work, even when it means being unpopular or going against the grain.
As workplace cultures continue to evolve, helping staff develop communication skills that are both assertive and respectful will be essential for productivity, inclusion and mental wellbeing. Generation Z’s viral advice may be bluntly labelled, but its underlying message — that you can be confident without being cruel — is one that resonates far beyond TikTok.