How to Respond to Gen Z Saying “That’s Not My Job” (Without HR Drama)

A last-minute request. A firm “That’s not in my job description.” Now what? In this straight-to-camera episode of Handled by The Y Variable, I break down how managers can respond to Gen Z boundaries without creating HR drama. You’ll get the exact three-part reset ("Context", "Clarity", "Choice"), simple language for defining what’s flexible vs. a hard stop, and a fair way to keep reciprocity visible. We’ll also cover what to do when “no” becomes a pattern—diagnose conditions, don’t win arguments—and practical lines early-career pros can use to protect their reputation while protecting their time.

You’ll learn:

• The real meaning behind “That’s not my job” (often about clarity, capacity, or trust)

• The on-the-spot reset: Context, Clarity, Choice

• Exact lines for after-hours asks (and how to still hit the deadline)

• How to set team flexibility without losing boundaries

• A manager diagnostic for chronic “no”

• Smart scripts for early-career pros

Work with me: speaking, trainings, manager toolkits. Check out: theyvariable.com Say hi: www.linkedin.com/in/yaa-hemaa-obiri-yeboah-3231659