Are Boomers and Gen X correct that Gen Z are a bunch of lazy low achievers who hate to work?

30 days ago
3

We all enjoy criticizing generations that are not our own. It’s entertaining! Millennials mock boomers for their leather phone cases that also function as wallets. Gen Z claims millennials are cringeworthy. Boomers label millennials as whiny woke individuals who have squandered their money on avocado toast and are now unable to purchase homes. Millennials accuse Gen Z of being too… trendy? Immature? Engaging with TikTok? Unfortunately, these accusations merely reinforce the ‘millennials are cringe’ narrative.

For a time, millennials were the favored target in the media, provoking frustration from various politicians or columnists almost weekly. This is largely due to millennials being the most prominent on media platforms. We’re (yes, I belong to the millennial group, and yes, I feel embarrassed) the internet generation, the first to showcase our upbringing on social media, leading to an abundance of material to reference.

But now, Gen Z has matured, and they have become the new targets. And among the common subjects they are criticized for - being overly woke, challenging conventions, possessing poor attention spans - work is certainly a significant one; which makes sense, as the older segment of Gen Z is now completely established in the workforce.

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Some stereotypes concerning Gen Z in the workplace include: they are uninterested in working, they are challenging to collaborate with, they constantly emphasize mental health, they refuse to work overtime, they are obstinate, they discuss boundaries frequently, they decline to participate in lunchtime meetings, they use playful email sign-offs, they include pronouns in their bio, and - the main overarching criticism - they are lazy.

The reality about generational stereotyping is that it originates from somewhere… and often elements of it are accurate. For instance, millennials truly cannot afford to purchase homes and indeed enjoy avocado toast (but are those two matters connected? ). It is accurate that Gen Z emphasizes boundaries more and enforces those boundaries more strictly than the preceding generation, and it is also correct that Gen Z prefers to avoid certain kinds of work. However, none of this is attributable to laziness or a deficiency in ambition.

The Gen Z individuals I’ve collaborated with and managed have not demonstrated a lack of ambition. If anything, they have been more straightforward about their aspirations than what is considered typical. When I’ve interviewed Gen Z candidates for positions, they are the ones who inquire about career progression from the very start. In our individual meetings, they discuss long-term objectives and what they wish to gain from their current position before advancing or transitioning. If they are unable to identify a path for progression, they desire to leave. Stagnation is not an option for them.

There have been some Gen Z individuals I’ve engaged with who seem to present an opposite perspective; they express a desire to avoid work altogether and make light of intentions to dismantle the government. However, this isn’t due to idleness, but rather disillusionment. Those ‘unmotivated’ Gen Z members are the ones dedicating their weekends to protests and organizing campaigns. They may choose to quiet quit their jobs, yet they will be selling items on Vinted to earn money. They might not aspire to climb a corporate ladder, but they do hold dreams of entrepreneurship.

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