Going to work isn’t always fun, and only some people truly love their job. But balancing work stress seems to have a generational divide, with Gen Z falling behind.
What is causing this difference? Is it just because young people don’t want to work? A new study may have answers.
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Gen Z is more burnt out compared to Boomers.
According to a study from Employment Hero of over 1,000 full-time workers, 72% of Gen Z reported feeling burnt out, while only 44% of Boomers reported the same.
The study also found that around 23% of Gen Z full-time employees felt stressed about work daily, while only 6% of Boomers felt this way.
It’s easy to blame Gen Z, but things do change over time.
While it’s always easy for older generations to say younger people don’t have a good work ethic or are lazy, things aren’t always that simple.
It’s a tale as old as time for older generations to worry about younger generations, while younger generations find older generations out of touch.
The economy has changed swiftly in the past few years.
According to the same study, many Gen Z workers feel burnt out because of financial issues. Living costs have undoubtedly increased recently, not just in major cities. Overall, wages haven’t caught up to the increased costs, making it harder for many people to make ends meet.
Younger people haven’t had time to save or build wealth.
While these economic changes impact everyone, Gen Z is newer to the workforce and hasn’t had as many years to build up their careers or wealth. On the other hand, boomers lived through decades that were less economically fraught, allowing for a bit more wiggle room.
Recent cultural upheavals could also play a role.
Along with issues surrounding the economy, many Gen Z workers were in high school or college during the height of COVID-19. This had an impact on their education and entry into young adulthood.
Combined with other social and political changes, Gen Z may feel less certain about their futures, leading to increased stress.
Gen Z may also see fewer rewards for their commitment.
On a Reddit thread about this topic, rKasdorf said, “I genuinely think it’s that the younger generations don’t see the same gains others did for the same amount of work. Wages are lower than they were comparatively and aren’t increasing at the same rate…I don’t think it’s any bigger than wages and salaries.”
Resilience and experience may also play a part.
As people age and grow in their careers, they gain more experience and often more respect. People in their 20s often have to try harder and put in more effort.
While this makes sense, it explains some of the extra stress Gen Z feels compared to Boomers, who have had more workplace experience.
The reasons for this divide are likely numerous.
Reddit user Johnnadawearsglasses had some good insight.
“This isn’t surprising on multiple levels. We already know younger people are disproportionately experiencing mental health issues. That doesn’t stop the moment they go to work. We also see with hybrid arrangements that many senior execs work from home, younger people are expected to come in, and there’s basically no mentorship or learning happening. I also think the attitudes borne of social media obsession around work are horrible.”
Some people brought up the workload that’s often placed on younger employees.
According to ghostly_shark, “My older coworkers work less, get paid more and have more job security due to seniority. Meanwhile, the younger ones are paid less, in some cases work two jobs, have less seniority despite working more efficiently in some cases, and are the last to leave the office.”
The importance of working together.
It also seems true that Gen Z generally wants a better work-life balance, especially as committing to one job doesn’t always lead to company loyalty anymore. Overall, it seems like Boomers could learn from Gen Z that it’s okay to prioritize mental health, while Gen Z could learn from Boomers’ experience and mentorship.
If you’re an employer and want to help, providing a fair, flexible workplace will likely benefit everyone, regardless of age.
