The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Gen Z came to 'slay.' Their bosses don't know what that means.

By Danielle Abril

12 Dec 2022 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

Gen Z has a language that is used almost exclusively to communicate with those in the generation. Now they're stepping into the office, the Washington Post explores how to mitigate misinterpretations.

When 24-year-old Mary Clare Wall read a message that said her colleague would be "out of pocket," she and her young co-workers giggled.

As Generation Z workers, Wall and her peers interpreted the phrase to mean that their colleague planned to do something crazy or inappropriate, not that they would be unavailable. But in the same manner, she confused her older colleagues with her regular use of the word 'slay.'

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

LoginForm.agreeToTerms