Many young professionals are paying a real price for their fear of picking up the phone.
A new survey of 2,000 Gen Z and millennial workers by the self-improvement app RiseGuide reveals widespread phone anxiety: **42%** admit they regularly ignore incoming calls, and **58%** script or rehearse what they’ll say before making one.
The impact goes beyond discomfort. Among those who avoid spoken conversations, **78%** said the habit has already cost them raises, promotions, or other career opportunities.
“Callergy” Is on the Rise
RiseGuide has even coined a term for this growing reluctance: **"callergy"** — the tendency to default to texts, emails, and DMs instead of actual voice conversations.
Jaimee Campanella, a time strategist and productivity consultant at RiseGuide, explains that modern technology makes it too easy to avoid real-time communication.
> “Text messages, emails, and social media give us time to edit our responses, while face-to-face or phone communication requires us to engage in the moment,” Campanella said. “The more we postpone difficult conversations, the more intimidating they become.”
Avoidance, she warns, often creates bigger problems than the conversation itself — missed opportunities, strained relationships, and wasted mental energy.
A Tough Job Market Is Forcing Some Changes
Despite the anxiety, the current competitive job market is pushing some young workers to confront their phone fears.
Adrian Poon, a Gen Z HR professional moving from temp contracts to full-time roles, told Business Insider (via text) that he only pushes past his call reluctance when actively job hunting. He typically lets unknown numbers go to voicemail unless it’s a friend.
Poon views unexpected calls as “opening a blind box.” He prefers scheduled calls with clear agendas and generally avoids cold-calling recruiters. Even when calling friends, he often prepares points in advance so he doesn’t waste anyone’s time.
Phones vs. Real Life
Younger generations have a conflicted relationship with their smartphones. Many prefer texting over talking, yet they’re also actively trying to reduce screen time through digital detoxes, app blockers like Brick, or even “dumb phones.”
Still, the fear of spontaneous calls remains strong. According to the survey, **one in ten** respondents said an unexpected phone call is the *most stressful* form of communication — more stressful than a breakup or a job interview.
While texting and messaging offer convenience and control, over-reliance on them may be quietly undermining career growth for an entire generation of workers. As Campanella notes, real communication skills only improve through practice — and in many professional settings, the phone remains a critical tool.
Those willing to step outside their comfort zone and pick up the call may gain a meaningful edge in building relationships, closing opportunities, and advancing their careers.