New Delhi, June 9 -- A couple of months ago, I was conducting a workshop on behavioural skills with a multigenerational workforce at a Delhi-based organisation, when the conversation turned to Gen Z and their work ethic. Given the diversity of the cohort in terms of age, tenure and experience, the overall tone of the discussion was respectful, though not without a certain edge.

People counted as Gen Z are, broadly speaking, those born between 1997 and 2012. The stereotype of an employee from this generation in white-collar jobs is someone who puts a premium on mental health over ruthless productivity; prefers to work remotely, or as a digital nomad, instead of going into office five-six days a week to collaborate with their colleagues in...