Kim Kardashian’s famous statement “it seems like nobody wants to work these days” could summarise the general view of Gen-Z at work.
The younger generation is more prone to be labelled as lazy, ungrateful & lacking ambition than any other age range. In the context of the “Great Resignation”, several people quit their jobs for reasons such as slow wage growth, limited advancements & hostile environments.
Interestingly enough, workers just a few years ago would likely have never dreamed of leaving their jobs mid-crisis. So, what has changed?
On the whole, the standard of work quality has improved. We are often provided more flexible hours, have smarter tools & better offices.
That being said, young people still feel an immense amount of pressure at the workplace. It’s trendy to work overtime, it’s trendy to have side hustles & it’s trendy to grind it out.
Hustling can make you feel important. With people like Elon Musk saying that “nobody changed the world on 40 hours a week” for millions of people to read, it’s easy to see why Gen-Zs feel like they’re never doing enough.
Instead of giving in to that motto, many have taken the opposite route by working to live & not living to work. A lot have given up on their employer-oriented identity & don’t strive for advanced job titles with no other benefits.
With all the information that can be found online, people can make more informed choices that suit them & not
their employer.
The general Gen-Z attitude makes sense when the majority of them could work their 9 to 5’s for years to come & still won’t be able to afford their own homes in this market.
Still, Gen-Zs can’t be considered lazy. In a 2022 US survey, 60% of teens expressed their desire to start their own businesses.
This statistic hints that the younger generation doesn't have a problem with working per se, but instead prefers to take ownership of their roles to promote their ethics & to prevent burnout. At first glance, this dream could sound idealistic, but what’s wrong with striving for it?
Young people are known for pushing the envelope - they’re innovative, not spoilt. After all, don’t we all want
more fulfilling work?
