It is often said that Generation Z is lazy. They don’t want to work or make an effort. But a Cambridge professor sees things quite differently and says that Gen Z has a different idea of work.
What is Generation Z? Depending on the definition, people born between 1997 and 2012 are classified as Generation Z. Gen Z often has the reputation of being lazy and not wanting to work properly. Many successful people like Jamie Dimon, a business manager, explained to the business magazine Business Insider that Millennials and Gen Z work less and live longer than other generations. One example would be job ghosting, which seems to be a popular trend among Gen Z.
Thomas Roulet, a professor of organizational sociology and leadership at the University of Cambridge, sees things differently and defends Gen Z. He believes that the generation is not lazy at all, they simply have a different idea of work, which is based on modern times.
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3 reasons why Gen Z is not lazy
In a YouTube video on the Cambridge University channel, Roulet talks about the topic and gives three reasons why he thinks the cliché that Gen Z is lazy is nonsense.
The first point: It has always been said that younger generations are lazy. He even cites Socrates as an example, who complained about younger generations and their work ethic.
The second reason why the topic is always present is the changing expectations of work. He says that the younger generations want to grow in their careers and have a purpose, but at the same time the work-life balance has to be right.
Roulet’s third point is the current economic situation. A job 20 or 30 years ago simply offered greater security than jobs today. As an example, he mentions that even if you have a good job, you often still have no chance of buying property. This also changes expectations of the job and people want meaning, a work-life balance and growth.
Finally, he concludes that companies should stop being complacent and make a conscious effort to work towards the wishes and expectations of the younger generation in order to provide a meaningful path into working life.
What you can see from these points is that Gen Z wants to work, but under different conditions and with different wishes than previous generations. Work is no longer the only focus in life, but a balance between all the important aspects of life.
What do you say about the points mentioned? Do you agree with them or do you also think it’s nonsense? Write it to us in the comments. The affinity for the Internet even gives Gen Z an advantage when looking for a job: Gen Z uses clever methods that can help with the job search – Boomers should do this much more often