Zoho CEO Mani Vembu has said that flexible working is not a concept invented by Generation Z, arguing that the company has followed such practices for nearly three decades. Reacting to a post on X that suggested the traditional 9-to-5 workday is fading because Gen Z prefers more flexible schedules, Vembu said Zoho adopted flexible working long before Gen Z entered the workforce and that it should not be viewed as a generational trend.
"We've been working this way at Zoho for nearly 30 years. Interesting that it's been framed as new Gen Z culture," Vembu wrote on X.
He added that the demand for flexibility is not unique to any age group but reflects a broader human preference. According to Vembu, people have always valued flexible work arrangements, provided productivity and business goals are not compromised.
We've been working this way at Zoho for nearly 30 years. Interesting that it's been framed as new Gen Z culture.
— Mani Vembu (@MVhandle) August 3, 2026
I think this more about human beings. We always preferred flexibility, as long as work gets done. https://t.co/joZ41aFbIt
Mani Vembu, a longtime Zoho executive, and Sridhar Vembu, Zoho's Chief Scientist and co-founder, are brothers and key leaders within the company.
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Mani Vembu's comments come as employers around the world continue to debate the future of work, with many organisations balancing employee demand for flexibility against the benefits of office-based collaboration.
Vembu's remarks add to the wider conversation about how companies can create effective working environments while adapting to changing workforce expectations.
