Business
Millennial CEO shares ‘the most honest’ absence request from his Gen Z staffer: ‘I recently had a breakup… I need a short break’
Gen Z often gets flak for leaning too heavily on the life side of work-life balance, like turning down a meeting request because it clashed with a workout. Now, a millennial CEO has added to the debate, with the “most honest” absence request he’s ever received from an employee: To take 12 days off to deal with heartbreak.
Jasveer Singh, co-founder and CEO of knot.dating (an AI matrimony app in India) shared the email he received from his young staff member on social media and it’s piquing the attention of thousands of users.
“Hello sir, I recently had a break up and haven’t been able to focus on work, I need a short break. I’m working from home today, so I’d like to take leave from the 28th to the 8th,” the Gen Z employee wrote.
Got the most honest leave application yesterday. Gen Z doesn’t do filters! pic.twitter.com/H0J27L5EsE— Jasveer Singh (@jasveer10) October 28, 2025
Singh concluded in the caption: “Gen Z doesn’t do filters!” The request may be unusual for leaders not familiar with the candor of the younger generation, but the boss approved it without question.
“For me, this is not even surprising. It’s okay if somebody is having some kind of personal stuff where they are not able to focus on work. So how is it a hard deal?” Singh tells Fortune.
Plus, as someone who runs a love expert app, Singh gets the sting of heartbreak all too well. “Love is one of the strongest emotions in the world. If somebody is going through that pain, it’s very difficult to even focus on work,” he added.
Gen Z is changing work-life balance expectations in the office
Asking for a leave of absence due to a breakup may sound like a taboo concept for the boomer generation. But Gen Z is now rewriting the script for what’s considered the norm for their next PTO day.
Research suggests part of the generational gap comes down to differing expectations. For example, one study found that the youngest generation of workers thinks 10 minutes late is still on time. Meanwhile, boomers have zero tolerance for tardiness. A separate study found that they’re asking for more time off than any other generation, citing mental health struggles.
At knot.dating, Singh said he works with a lot of 23-to-24 year olds and sees the transparency that comes with it firsthand. While other generations may have to think twice before giving an opinion to a manager, he said if Gen Z feels something, they’ll say it.
“Millennials versus Gen Z—there is a major shift. Two or three decades back, nobody was open to talk about this stuff,” Singh said. “They couldn’t even think of asking their manager and getting real leave approval.”
Companies should listen to Gen Z—and adapt, according to Singh
For the generation known as the side-hustle cohort, traditional 9-to-5s are one of many options for financial independence. It’s one reason why they may come across as too transparent—or curt even. Singh said they can afford to be honest because they have less to lose financially if they choose to walk away from outdated workplaces.
Instead of pay, flexible and adaptable work is one of the main drivers to having young talent stick around—with reports finding flexibility outvalues compensation. If companies fail to adapt, Singh said workplaces will have a talent crisis.
“Every organization has to adapt to the new trend or culture,” he said. “If they [managers] are not going to adapt, they’ll lose their talent.”
And if anything, being human will be among the most valuable assets in the future of work.
As one social media user pointed out on the X post: “In an age of AI you should be hiring people with solid communication skills and great EQ. This person is that.”
