At just 24, Vicky Owens owns her own social media agency, and is among the new age of Gen Z bosses shaking up traditional (and some might say stuffy) work culture. But her methods when it comes to growing her team and keeping them happyare fairly controversial, with her approach being extremely relaxed. Taking to TikTok to share her managerial tips – which she claims have helped her build an ‘unbreakable’ team – the Socially Speaking Media founder explained: ‘For starters, I let the team start at 10am.
Most of us aren’t morning people , but if they are I let them start earlier and finish earlier...
Most days we’re all in at 10. ‘If a member of the team feels more productive working at home on a certain day, I let them, although all of them actually prefer to be in the office every day.’ Working from home has been a big sticking point for many bosses in the last couple of years, causing division between those in charge and the people who work for them.
According to a 2023 YouGov poll , nearly half of Brits (43%) want a hybrid situation (combining a couple of in-office days per week with WFH on others) while 29% want to work remotely on a permanent basis. Controversial ways I run my team as a Gen Z boss #genz #genzboss #genzlife #genzvsmillenial #bosslife #genzmanager Hybrid working was also named as the number one wished-for work perk in a study of more than 2,000 employees, which contrasts with LinkedIn research showing half of companies prefer staff to be in the office – and 10% were even planning a forced return due to ‘productivity paranoia.’ But for Vicky this isn’t a concern, and she says she’s created a working environment where people want to be in the office.
She continued: ‘I let the team wear whatever they want to the office within reason. As long as they look presentable when clients come in, I’m more than happy with that.’ A casual dress code was favoured by 74% of the country’s workforce who say formal workwear is a hindrance to their current job role, alongside 86% of those who simply prefer to dress in casual clothing.
Day in the life 24 year old Managing Director ✨ #businessowner #businessowners #businesstips #businessownerlife #entrepreneurtok #entrepreneurlife Detailing her other policies, Vicky added: ‘If you feel like watching a movie while getting your work done is going to make you more productive, that’s fine by me – as long as the work gets done. We’ve never had any problems with this. ‘Most of the time when the team has completed all their work, they let me know and ask if these is anything else they can do.
’ Most of us, if we attempted to watch a film while working in the office, would be swiftly reprimanded. But does it really matter if your employee completes their daily workload while enjoying something in the background? With 18% of women and 9% of men claiming they’ve felt stressed at work everyday for three months straight, surely playing Shrek Two or The Devil Wears Prada on their second monitor couldn’t hurt. This isn’t all the 24-year-old lets her team do though; she also spoils them rotten with trips abroad.
‘This is probably the team’s favourite one – I take them on holiday, sort of,’ Vicky said. ‘I go on two luxury business retreats every single year and always bring the team with me. So far we’ve been to Barbados, Marrakesh and Tuscany.
’ And while she’s not the only company to do this, it’s certainly a morale booster. The expert's opinion HR consultant Connor Hughes believes that Vicky’s approach is ‘creating a less hierarchical and more relaxed workplace culture’. It’s a trend he’s seeing in the values of many younger leaders who prioritise mental health and work-life balance.
‘However,’ Connor says, ‘the success of these policies heavily depends on the maturity and self-discipline of the employees. ‘If workers take advantage of the freedoms and slack off, productivity will undoubtedly suffer. On the other hand, if they remain focused and engaged, the informal environment could foster creativity and job satisfaction.
’ For Connor, clear expectations, open communication, and a culture of mutual trust and accountability are essential for this management style to thrive. ‘When executed well, it can lead to a highly engaged and productive workforce,’ he adds. While the 24-year-old’s approach is unconventional, the relaxed policies may attract and retain talent, especially among younger generations who value flexibility and informality.
’ Vicky’s unique outlook was well received on TikTok, with one user, Hazel Cathrin, commenting: ‘Big on “as long as the work gets done”.’ Mie Tuxin agreed, saying: ‘I wish all bosses were like you: accept that their employees are humans, not machines, and trust them 100%. Love this.
’ ‘Literally as long as we dress appropriately, work gets done, clients are happy, why not have a little fun while doing it right?’ added Lav. Most comments were young professionals desperately hoping there were job opportunities at Vicky’s company, although to their disappointment, she’s currently not hiring. There are plenty of other companies out there offering perks, though – some verging on the unnecessary.
More Trending 'Quaint' but 'boring' city crowned the best place in the UK to get a job Hospitality workers reveal their most 'rude' and 'strange' customer interactions How to give yourself a promotion (and why you keep being passed over) I'm a millennial manager, I refuse customers because I want to go home Google allows staff to bring pets to work, and offers free cookery and gym classes as well as credits for on-site massages. Skyscanner formerly offered free food and table football, while Spotify had lunchtime jam sessions, but since the pandemic companies have had to re-think what they’ve got on offer – and what employees actually want. Benefits that take the strain out of everyday life, from help with housing to dental care, are most important to the younger cohort , but luxuries some might consider ‘perkwashing’ – such as restaurant discounts, free fruit, and first class travel on work trips – tend to appeal more to those over the age of 40.
Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected] .
MORE : Skiplagging is a growing travel trend, and airlines aren’t happy about it MORE : Are these job benefits some of the best in the business? MORE : Nicole Scherzinger slammed for posting ‘most tasteless’ video from her luxury yacht Sign up to our guide to what’s on in London, trusted reviews, brilliant offers and competitions. London’s best bits in your inbox By ticking this box, you confirm you are over the age of 18*. Privacy Policy ».
