Gen Z workplace stress is spilling into naps and tears away from desks

Gen Z workplace stress is showing up in a visible way on TikTok: young office workers are leaving their desks to nap, cry or take a private break during the workday. Fortune reported that the posts have struck a nerve with workers who say commutes, office pressure and workplace conflict leave them searching for any secluded place nearby.

Ben Sanderson told Fortune he bought a $15 movie ticket in New York with no plan to watch the film. He used the theater’s reclining seat to sleep for about 90 minutes, then returned to work.

Sanderson said he had “one of the best naps” of his life and described movie theaters as a useful option for New York commuters who cannot go home during a break. His TikTok about the idea drew more than 1 million views, according to Fortune, and viewers responded with their own suggested places to rest.

Another TikTok user, @posh_vip, posted a New York list for workers looking for places to cry away from the office, Fortune reported. Her suggestions included subway stations, the Williamsburg Bridge and the fitting rooms at Zara in Soho.

Why are Gen Z workers leaving the office to nap or cry?

The posts reflect a broader complaint among younger workers: the standard office schedule can feel hard to sustain, especially with commuting time added to the day. Fortune reported that nearly half of Gen Z office workers say workplace stress has brought them to tears, citing research on the issue.

The public frustration is not new. Fortune pointed to a 2023 viral TikTok in which a young worker cried over a demanding nine-to-five schedule after commuting, a post that drew millions of views and a wave of criticism from people who framed it as a reaction to a first full-time job.

Fortune reported that many younger workers have since looked for alternatives to traditional office roles, including multiple income streams, self-employment, content creation and trade work. It also cited a large 2025 U.K. survey of young new hires that found about 40% seriously considered quitting during their first year in a corporate job.

What do workplace reports say is adding to the pressure?

Return-to-office policies have also put more workers back in close contact with colleagues and managers, Fortune reported. A workplace-incivility report cited by Fortune estimated that more than 208 million instances of office hostility occurred each day in American workplaces during the first quarter of 2025.

Resume Now research cited by Fortune found that 61% of employees said they had been thrown under the bus at work. Nearly one-third said they saw that happen weekly, and one in four said a manager had set them up to fail.

Fortune also reported that Gen Z workers are facing repeated criticism over office behavior, professional dress and work habits while hearing warnings that artificial intelligence could reduce entry-level roles. Those pressures are arriving as many young workers are dealing with high living costs and a tighter job market, limiting their ability to quit even when they feel burned out.

The result, according to the TikTok posts highlighted by Fortune, is a search for short escapes rather than a clean exit. For some workers, that means a paid seat in a dark theater; for others, it means a quiet station corner or a retail fitting room between meetings.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.