A viral TikTok by a recruiter warning against bringing iced coffee to job interviews sparked a nationwide debate that reveals deeper workplace tensions. The real issue isn't the coffee—it's the clash between older-generation managers (who see it as unprofessionalism) and Gen Z candidates (who view interview prep as just another errand). AI is intensifying this power struggle: employers can no longer screen candidates through traditional signals, while Gen Z—growing up amid climate crisis, gun violence, COVID-19, and AI job-displacement fears—distrusts rigid workplace hierarchies and questions arbitrary rules. Managers now face a critical question: hire for demonstrated ability, or filter on appearance and conformity?