Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Merriam-Webster Labels Gen Z’s ‘Micro-Retirement’ a Vacation

Merriam-Webster’s July 8 tweet sparked a divisive social-media response by framing micro-retirements as nothing more than vacations.

Merriam-Webster’s post on Gen Z workplace trend micro-retirement has sparked a debate on social media. (Representational image).
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Gen Z’s micro-retirement trend calls for one- to two-week breaks every 12 to 18 months as a work-life balance and well-being strategy.
  • The dictionary’s official X post cited its January 1 entry and declared that the term simply describes traditional vacations.
  • X users offered mixed feedback, with some defending micro-retirements as essential pauses and others mocking the relabeling of routine time off.
  • Commentators at The Atlantic and OutKick satirized and criticized the trend, questioning whether it truly represents a novel workplace practice.
  • Advocates say micro-retirements reflect Gen Z’s broader push for flexible benefits and underscore ongoing discussions over U.S. vacation policies.