CURATED READS FOR GEN Z—AND THEIR Z-CURIOUS COLLEAGUES

first up

Welcome back! This week, we’re solving for the equation business + pleasure = ‘bleisure.’

A new day, a new portmanteau—or two—for our working world is here. “Workation” is the concept of working from a vacation locale for an extended period. There’s also “bleisure,” or business plus leisure travel. 

Think of it like this: you’re working remotely anyway, so why not do it from an exotic location? Or a place you’ve always wished you had more time to explore than your PTO allows? As companies continue to figure out their hybrid and in-person work policies, “work from anywhere” is the new summer Friday.

These ideas, which gained momentum at the height of the pandemic, have remained a part of life for some workers (those privileged office workers who have disposable income and flexibility in their own lives). But does a “workation” actually work for Gen Z? 

The truth is, bleisure travel might not be possible for younger employees, who, on their salaries, may not be able to budget for extended travel while still paying rent at their home base. (McKinsey research finds that in some professions, such as tech, some Gen Z workers prioritize higher pay over workplace flexibility, after all.) 

Let’s say the typical Gen Zer finds a way to afford a workation; if this is you, it may take some careful thinking to decide whether it’s worth the time away from your usual work setting. For example, depending on where you normally live, there may be tax implications (for you and your employer) to working elsewhere for an extended period. And to avoid any suspicion that your workation is just a thinly veiled über-long vacation—which won’t exactly look great on a performance review—you’ll have to have conversations with your manager about what you’ll need to get done while you’re gone; that way, you’re still accountable for your work even if time zones differ. 

A workation can be a lot like well-organized hybrid work, according to Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom, who spoke with McKinsey partner Michael Chui about getting hybrid work right. In the best hybrid scenarios, your entire team would be coming into the office on the same days and working remotely for the rest of the week; the remote work days are, ideally, those that allow time for deep thinking. And if you have to do creative work, it’s often best to bounce around ideas in person, which may affect when you decide a workation is right for you. 

Anyway, remember: when dealing with burnout or if you’re just in need of a break, sometimes a regular vacation, sans tether, is the way to go.

VISUALIZE IT

Finding suitable land to build wind turbines is vital in helping European countries reach net-zero energy goals.

WAIT, DON’T SCROLL

Shifting gears. Is Porsche a tech company? To a growing group of tech talent who have flocked to the automaker, it is.

The ‘frozen middle.’ Black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani groups in the United Kingdom are the furthest behind on pay and labor force participation and often get stuck in the “frozen middle,” an effect that makes it difficult to progress in an organization.

Not the widget factory. Economics has never been more interesting, according to two University of Michigan professors who insist that the subject can be a joy to study.

NOT US; STILL GREAT

Beef, beer, (cold) brew. Restaurants and CPG companies are scrambling to evolve their product offerings to satisfy Gen Z’s tastes, with a few hiccups along the way. [WSJ]

RIP great thrifting? As the quality of some mass-produced clothing has diminished over the years and fast fashion has proliferated, it’s getting harder to find holy grail products. [Blackbird Spyplane]

CROSSWORD

— Edited by Alexandra Mondalek, editor, New York