International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

Generation Z (broadly, those born between approximately 1997 and 2012) is entering the workforce in growing numbers, and popular and practitioner discourse frequently characterizes this cohort through two recurring deficit labels: “distraction” – a purportedly shortened attention span and a preference for constant digital stimulation – and “non-commitment” – a reduced willingness to remain with a single employer, role, or career trajectory. This conceptual paper interrogates whether these behavioral signatures represent superficial generational idiosyncrasies to be absorbed within existing human resource management (HRM) paradigms, or whether they are symptomatic of a deeper structural shift in the psychological contract between employees and organizations. Drawing on generational cohort theory, psychological contract theory, social exchange theory, and self-determination theory, the paper develops an integrative conceptual framework that reinterprets “distraction” as an adaptive response to information-saturated environments and reconfigured attention economies, and “non-commitment” as a rational recalibration of loyalty under conditions of eroded organizational reciprocity. The paper argues that generational explanations alone are insufficient and frequently overstated, yet the confluence of technological, economic, and cultural conditions surrounding Generation Z's labor market entry constitutes meaningful pressure toward a genuine paradigm shift in HRM – from tenurebased, hierarchical, and compliance-oriented models toward engagement-based, purpose-driven, and flexibility-oriented models. Implications for recruitment and employer branding, onboarding, performance management, career architecture, and the governance of workplace technology are discussed, followed by the paper's limitations and directions for future empirical research.

A Amala, "Generation Z in the Workplace: Do Distraction and NonCommitment Signal a Paradigm Shift in Human Resource Management?" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(4): Page(806-823) July-August 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.