NYU Professor Says Gen Z-ers Should Never Work From Home if They Want to Experience Success—or Love

By: Ene Ayegba | Last updated: Nov 11, 2023

Professor Scott Galloway from New York University (NYU) is known for challenging traditional ideas and promoting new thoughts. However, his recent remarks about remote work have sparked a debate. Galloway believes spending too much time at home affects one’s professional and love life.

“You should never be at home. That’s what I always tell young people. Home is for seven hours of sleep and that’s it… You need to be out of the house,” he said. Many have wondered whether older generations like Galloway’s understand the challenges faced by Gen Z.

The Debate

Galloway made valid points about the importance of relationships for a successful career and the negative impact of loneliness on young people’s mental health. However, there are other things to consider. For example, stress from office supervision can affect one’s mental state.

Source: Getty Images

As Galloway’s comments became popular on TikTok, many disagreed with his views, arguing that staying at home might be a more practical choice for some people due to the economic situation and commuting expenses.

Economic Factors and Online Dating

The cost of housing was another major consideration for many users. “If I’m paying more than a quarter of monthly rent, I’m enjoying my space,” one user said. With respect to romantic relationships, some TikTok commenters pointed out that online dating allows for relationship-building without leaving home.

Source: Getty Images

They also highlighted the positive impact of being close to family and pets on happiness and overall life satisfaction, even if it means sacrificing some career opportunities.

Returning to the Office

Although some workers pushed back against returning to the office, various business leaders are eager to bring employees back. Companies like JP Morgan, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Snap, and Tesla have all encouraged employees to return to the office.

Source: Torncurtain.org/TikTok

According to McKinsey research, over half of Americans work from home at least once a week, and an Upwork study predicts that by 2025, around 36.2 million Americans may be working from home regularly.

The Hybrid Work Environment: A Potential Solution

However, experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the University of Iowa opined that remote work could make it harder to collaborate, learn on the job, and produce quality work because there’s less feedback from colleagues.

Source: Scott Galloway/TikTok

Conversely, a researcher from Stanford University suggested a hybrid work setup where employees can go to the office a few days a week and work from home the rest of the time. The idea is about finding a middle ground between promoting teamwork and keeping the flexibility of remote work.