Zoho CEO Mani Vembu Rejects Claims That Gen Z Changed the 9-to-5 Work Culture

Zoho CEO Mani Vembu has rejected the notion that Gen Z is responsible for changing the conventional 9-to-5 work culture. In a post on X, he said flexible working is not a new concept and has been part of Zoho’s work culture for nearly three decades. According to Vembu, the focus should not be on when employees start or finish work, but on whether they complete their responsibilities efficiently and on time.

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu also shared his views on the Gen Z debate, stating that categorising people solely based on age is misleading. He said qualities such as responsibility, financial discipline, and strong family values are not exclusive to any generation. Citing examples from Zoho, he mentioned a 19-year-old employee prioritising the repayment of family debts and two young employees who chose simple weddings to save money. He said these values transcend generational labels and are equally visible among younger employees.