Brutal breakups causing over a third of Gen Z to take heartbreak leave from work
It seems Gen-Z has declared heartbreak as the next workplace taboo, and they're hellbent on breaking the stigma around it.
'I went through a brutal break-up last year and I just couldn't face work,' discloses 24-year-old Maya. The graphic designer from London confesses: 'I was crying constantly and trying to pretend I was fine on Zoom calls — it was exhausting. I ended up taking a few days off and honestly, I think it stopped me from burning out completely.'
And Maya isn't the only one. A recent survey by a dating app has unveiled that a third of Gen Z have taken leave from work to heal from a break up — a significantly higher proportion than any other generation. While heartbreak is a universal ordeal, a fresh poll indicates that younger generations are more prone to let it adversely affect their professional lives.
Dating app Wisp, which promotes face-to-face meetings, has discovered that Gen Z is spearheading a considerable shift in how personal heartbreak impacts the workplace, with a significant portion of them taking time off to recuperate from a relationship breakdown.
The experts say romantic distress should be acknowledged in the workplace — and to no one's surprise, Gen Z is reportedly at the forefront of pushing for greater emotional transparency.
The results are striking: 34% of Gen Z respondents aged 18-27 confessed to having taken leave from work specifically due to heartbreak. This statistic underscores a distinct generational contrast compared to their older colleagues.
Only 20% of Millennials (aged 28-43) reported doing the same, with the numbers dropping further down to 11% for Gen X (aged 44-59). As expected, a mere 7% of Baby Boomers (aged 60-78) took time off from their professional commitments to nurse a broken heart.
The results are in, and the data is clear: Gen Z is less likely to "power through" emotional distress at work. In total, 67% of all respondents confessed that break-ups negatively impact their productivity at work — with 38% admitting they had shed tears at work in front of colleagues post-breakup.
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
Wisp's resident dating expert, Sylvia Linzalone, suggests the results reflect an increasing awareness of mental health — and the emotional burden romantic relationships can impose, particularly on younger individuals. Linzalone shares: "Gen Z has grown up with open conversations around wellbeing, and they're more in tune with the impact relationships have on their emotional landscape.
She says: "We talk a lot about sick days and stress leave, but heartache is a real, valid experience that can seriously derail someone's focus and confidence."
Wisp, a dating app centred on real-world connection and emotional intention, believes the findings demonstrate just how profoundly romantic relationships continue to shape our daily lives — even within the workplace.
"When your heart's on the floor, it's not always easy to sit through back-to-back meetings pretending everything's fine," Linzalone notes. "Taking time to process and recover isn't weakness — it's part of being human."
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Hulk Hogan's final moments detailed - desperate 911 call to hospital dash
WWE icon Hulk Hogan died aged 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Insiders and old friends claimed he was suffering with health issues in recent weeks Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan was getting "tired easily" and "couldn't speak" in the days leading up to his shock death aged 71. The WWE icon reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at his Florida home, with medics working tirelessly for 30 minutes to save the star on Thursday morning. It was reported he was struggling with his health in the weeks leading up to his death, with the star recently undergoing surgery on his neck. A source told The Mirror that the former WWE superstar had long been battling a 'very weak heart' and had deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. "Over his last few weeks, he was suffering from shortness of breath, becoming tired easily,' the insider said. "He also began to lose weight, which made him look frail. Terry knew he wasn't in a good way." "He had a lot of people he wanted to make peace with. It was important to him to repair the bridges that had once been destroyed." At the time of his death, Hogan remained estranged from his daughter Brooke, it is understood. A few days before, his old pal Lummy said on the Bubba The Love Sponge podcast the wrestler was on his deathbed and "couldn't talk". "His trachea or whatever was damaged and he's having problems and it does not look good. It does not look at all," he claimed. Bubba, who was once sued by Hogan for leaking a sex tape of his wife and the wrestler, told the channel he had heard from a hospital security guard: "He was transported to his house but he's still in his hospital bed. It's just like he's at the hospital. "They've gone as far as they can go at the hospital now. They just they're keeping him comfortable at his house in a hospital bed." He added: "He's not in such dire needs that he needs to be in close proximity to an emergency facility. He's stable enough to be at home, but you know, rather than just be sitting here getting bed sores and muscle atrophy at at Morton Plant, I can at least be home, get doctors and nurses to swing by my place to continue to check up on me. "But I've been told that that's where he's at now. And the security guard said the measures that they went to make sure nobody saw him transported in an ambulance to his home was like Michael Jackson type stuff." On May 15, a representative for Hogan informed American press that he had received a "little fusion procedure" on his neck and was healing rapidly. This follows longtime mate Eric Bischoff revealing in a statement: "Hulk Hogan had a very successful cervical surgery and is experiencing some adverse reaction." On Thursday morning, it was said that a number of police cars and emergency vehicles were parked outside the wrestling legend's home, and he was 'carried on a stretcher into an ambulance'. Operators of the 911 call could be heard dispatching paramedics to the scene as they noted the matter was for a cardiac arrest. Officials responded to the call at 9:51am, as he received treatment from Clearwater Fire & Rescue before being taken to a nearby hospital. He died at the hospital at 11:17am. The sports star's death was confirmed by WWE in a heartbreaking statement. They wrote: "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.'
Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Scotsman
Nationwide community care day offers free health checks, haircuts and hope to thousands
Tomorrow (26 July), more than 30 communities across the UK – from London to Glasgow, and Bristol to Belfast – will take part in Community Care Day, a new nationwide outreach event led by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG). Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the event will offer free health checks, haircuts, beauty treatments and mental wellbeing support to local residents – including many already receiving weekly food aid through UCKG's soup kitchens and food banks. It's part of a growing movement to provide not just food – but dignity, self-care and community connection – to those most in need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In times of crisis, a hot meal is vital. But so is hope,' said Bishop James Marques, who leads UCKG in the UK. 'Community Care Day is about reminding people they matter. Whether it's a haircut, a blood pressure check or a chat about mental health – small acts of care can make a lasting difference.' Saturday 26 July – Community Care Day, a new nationwide outreach event led by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG). The initiative, coordinated through UCKG's 38 full-time branches and supported by local professionals, will see nail technicians, barbers and health workers donating their time across cities, such as Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Sheffield. 'There's a real gap in accessible care right now – especially for those who are homeless, isolated or struggling financially,' said Pastor David Osei, who is Head of UCKG Community Outreach. 'Community Care Day is our way of filling that gap – not just with faith, but with action.' The event builds on UCKG's long-standing commitment to social outreach. Its research, Faith and the Future, shows that 72% of Gen Z believe faith-based organisations have a key role in tackling issues such as homelessness, mental health and youth violence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As part of its 30th anniversary year in the UK, UCKG continues to expand community programmes including The Night Angels, Lives Not Knives Walk, and Cook Out to Reach Out. Community Care Day adds a new dimension – focused on physical, emotional, and practical care.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent do not eat warning issued over Tesco salads after salmonella fears
An urgent warning has been issued over salad products at retail giant Tesco because of fears they may be contaminated with salmonella. Customers who bought the affected pasta salads are being urged not to eat them and instead to return them to the supermarket for a full refund. Tesco said it would be recalling specific date codes of three Tesco Pasta Salads due to the possible presence of found during routine testing, The Mirror reported. The meals affected include esco Basil Pesto & Semi Dried Tomato Pasta 225g with a use by date of Jul 24 (2025), the Tesco Chicken & Chorizo Pasta 285g with use by dates Jul 24 and Jul 25, and the Tesco Feta Semi Dried Tomato Pasta 290g with the use by date Jul 24. The notice added: 'If you have purchased the affected date code of the above product, please do not eat it. Instead. return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. No receipt is required. No other Tesco products are affected by this recall.' Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and while most recover within a few days, in some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and require further medical attention. It comes as one person died after eating a contaminated ready meal linked to a rare bacterial outbreak in Ireland. The outbreak has prompted a nationwide recall of dozens of products sold in major supermarkets. The death is one of ten confirmed cases of listeriosis, a potentially deadly infection caused by listeria bacteria, identified in what health officials are calling an 'extensive' outbreak, centred around a range of pre-prepared dishes produced by Ballymaguire Foods. The meals, which include lasagnes, pasta bakes, cottage pies and potato sides, were sold in Tesco, SuperValu, Centra and Aldi sold in Ireland. Supermarket bosses are now scrambling to pull them from shelves amid growing concern for public safety. Within days of falling ill, one adult died from the infection. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that the case is under investigation but, due to patient confidentiality, has declined to release further details.
