Spend five minutes on social media or at a family gathering and you might hear it: “People just don’t want to work anymore.” It’s a phrase that’s become so common, it borders on cliché. And more often than not, it’s coming from someone in the Baby Boomer generation. Whether it’s said with frustration, confusion, or outright disdain, the underlying message is clear. If younger generations are struggling, it must be because they aren’t working hard enough.
But is that really the case? Or are we just looking at two drastically different experiences of what work, opportunity, and success used to mean?
A Tale of Two Economies
Boomers came of age in a post-war economy that, while not perfect, offered far more upward mobility than many people have today. Wages were higher in proportion to the cost of living. College tuition didn’t leave you in lifelong debt. A single income could often support a household. Buying a home was considered a natural next step. Not a near-impossible dream.
In that world, hard work did, more often than not, lead to tangible reward. So when Boomers say, “Just work hard like I did,” it’s not necessarily coming from malice. It’s coming from a worldview shaped by a very different economic reality. But here’s the rub: that version of the American Dream has quietly eroded for decades, and for younger generations, the math just doesn’t add up the same way.
The Work Ethic Is Still There. The Payoff Isn’t
Contrary to the stereotype, most Millennials and Gen Zers are working a lot. They’re juggling multiple jobs, side hustles, and freelance gigs just to keep up with rent and bills. Many are highly educated, deeply driven, and constantly “on” in a digital economy that rarely allows for downtime.
The issue isn’t laziness. It’s the disconnect between effort and reward. Working hard doesn’t guarantee stability the way it once did. And when your best efforts still leave you in debt, unable to buy a home, or living paycheck to paycheck, it’s easy to feel like the system is broken, because for many, it is.
The Rise of Burnout and Boundaries
One of the biggest generational divides around work is how it intersects with identity. For many Boomers, work was a defining part of life. You didn’t have to love your job. You just had to do it well, and that was enough. But younger generations grew up in a culture that promised passion and purpose through work and are now navigating the fallout when those promises fall short.
In response, a shift has occurred. Burnout isn’t a buzzword, but a reality, and younger workers are pushing back. They’re drawing boundaries, seeking flexibility, prioritizing mental health, and questioning whether endless hustle is really worth it. To some Boomers, that looks like laziness. But to many younger workers, it’s a matter of survival.
The Myth of the Moral Workload
Hard work is often framed as a moral value—something that proves your worth. But that framing ignores a crucial truth: not everyone starts at the same place. Systemic inequalities, rising costs, stagnant wages, and lack of access to basic needs like healthcare and housing all create invisible barriers that hard work alone can’t overcome.
So when Boomers say, “We had it tough too,” they’re not wrong, but they may be underestimating how many more hoops today’s workers have to jump through just to reach the same milestones. It’s not just about putting in the hours anymore. It’s about navigating a vastly more complicated and precarious landscape.
A Need for Empathy. Not Eye-Rolling
The “kids these days don’t want to work” trope does more harm than good. It shuts down meaningful conversations about what’s really changed and why people are rethinking their relationship with work. Yes, some individuals may lack motivation, just as some always have. But painting an entire generation with that brush dismisses the real economic and cultural shifts that have taken place.
If anything, what younger generations are asking for isn’t less work. They’re asking for better work. Work that pays fairly. Work that allows for a life outside of it. Work that doesn’t leave you broken, burnt out, or buried in debt. And maybe, just maybe, that’s not a sign of entitlement. Maybe it’s a sign of evolution.
Have you felt judged by older generations when it comes to how you work or how much you work? Do you think the “work ethic” argument is still relevant today, or is it time to redefine what hard work really means?
Read More:
14 Great Habits Baby Boomers Still Do And So Should You
12 Reasons Baby Boomers Have So Much Money
Riley is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.
Comments