Old Dogs, New Tricks: How Boomers and Gen Z are Shattering Expectations in the Workforce

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It’s no secret that older generations in the workforce are often seen as being rigid, resistant to change, and not tech-savvy.

However, it seems this conception of old vs new could be outdated; a closer look reveals how both Boomers and Gen Z may have more in common when it comes to disrupting the workplace status quo than meets the eye.

By bringing fresh perspectives, such as an openness to learning new skills or embracing big data, Boomers and Generation Z are showing us that age is not a factor when it comes to achieving success at work.

In this article, we will explore how these two age groups are shattering expectations in the workplace and discover what employers should take away from their efforts.

#1. Quiet Quitting

The term quiet quitting is all the rage these days. While many think the term means you stop working without telling your boss, workers define it differently.

Workers surveyed say quiet quitting is “taking time for oneself during the workday.” Most workers, including 93% of Boomers, say they see their co-workers participating in this behavior.

But both Boomers and Gen Z agree that quiet quitting is a good thing. Taking a few minutes during the day to reset leads to higher productivity. Unfortunately, most employers see this phenomenon as a negative thing.

Many workers report conversing with their boss and other leaders about this topic.

#2. Work Motivation Is Critical

Motivation is critical for workers to stay at their current job. What does motivation look like? Over 40% of Boomers and 35% of Gen Z are motivated when their work is challenging and meaningful.

Of those questioned, 40% said that lacking motivation is the main reason they seek a new job.

#3. Gen Z Is Also Responsible

When Gen Z was asked to describe themselves, they mentioned hardworking.

Boomers said Gen Z was more responsible than hardworking regarding work.

Interestingly, other generations, except for Boomers, labeled Gen Z lazy or selfish. Boomers were most likely to label Millennials as lazy or selfish.

#4. Boomers Are Responsible

When Boomers were asked how they described themselves, they mentioned being responsible, dedicated, and cooperative.

Gen Z cited that Boomers are responsible regarding their workload when asked to describe Boomers.

#5. Setting New Work Boundaries

The good news is that while burnout is real, workers and managers agree on setting new boundaries for work.

In fact, 91% of Boomers and 87% of Gen Z are comfortable leaving work during the day to attend to personal matters as long as they complete their work. Many people noted that their bosses encourage them to step away during the day as long as it does not interfere with getting their job done.

Don’t think that workers are lazy by taking time away. Over 40% of people say they take on tasks not part of their job description to help out their colleagues, with some working through lunch occasionally.

#6. Burn Out

Along with the growing popularity of smartphones came the always-connected job. Over time became an unwritten expectation that your boss could message you at 9 pm, and you would respond.

But after many years of this, burnout ranks high as an issue for most employees. In fact, 72% of Boomers and 78% of Gen Z are experiencing this feeling.

The most common reason for burnout among Boomers is additional responsibilities at home. Gen Z, it is being asked to do work outside of their job descriptions.

Additionally, 64% of Gen Z and 65% of Boomers say their mental health has negatively impacted their lives, citing that their jobs interfere with personal interests and time spent with family and friends.

Gen Z Asks Boomers For Life Advice

Even though Gen Z acts like they know it all, they eventually come around to the fact they don’t and ask Boomers for life advice.

Here are the answers to Gen Z’s most pressing questions.

What Happens When Gen Z Asks Boomers For Life Advice

Annoying Trends That Need To Stop

I realize this sounds like me being a grouchy old man, but there are certain trends that need to stop immediately.

The good news is I’m not alone, as many others feel the same way.

The Annoying Trends That Need To Stop Now

How To Get A Raise At Work

Do you want to make more money? Of course you do! Sadly, most people wait until their review to ask for a raise and are disappointed when the answer is no.

A better solution is to follow a plan that ensures you get a raise of 5% or more.

HOW TO EARN A RAISE AT WORK

Signs You Are Financially Stable

Do you want to get to a place where money isn’t stressful? This is known as financial stability.

Here is how to know if you are financially stable

Concrete Signs You Are Financially Stable

How To Invest In Yourself

We all know we grow wealth by investing in the stock market or putting our money into savings accounts.

But many of us are unaware that the best returns are by investing in ourselves. When we improve ourselves, we have the ability to earn a lot more money, which makes it easier to become filthy rich.

LEARN HOW TO INVEST IN YOURSELF

Data for this article are from a recent survey by Indeed.