Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What Work Boundaries Are
Vlada Karpovich | PexelsWork values are nuanced, especially when it comes to generational beliefs.
Everyone has their own priorities, but Gen Zers and millennials are working to protect personal freedom and well-being, while baby boomers and Gen X workers aim to create meaning and belonging in their careers. So, it's no surprise they all have wildly different ideas of what work boundaries should look like.
Each generation has completely different ideas of what work boundaries look like
Baby boomers overwork and sacrifice in the name of company loyalty
Boomers tend to forgo setting boundaries in the workplace. To some extent, they're really a last resort.
Yes, they have their personal needs and values, but proving their commitment to a company comes first. They'll do this even if that means answering the phone on the weekends or working late into the evening.
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If they have flexibility later in their careers, it's because they've earned it by enduring exhaustion without setting boundaries over what they will and won't tolerate at work.
Their values revolve around a strong work ethic and commitment. It may mean having company loyalty and overworking themselves or climbing a corporate ladder in the same place for decades.
Gen Xers need more work-life balance than their parents had
While Gen Xers often still operate under the mental health stigmas of their parents' generation, urging them to burn out and work to exhaustion without asking for professional support, they do care about work-life balance.
While loyalty and job stability are important, having the flexibility to be present at home with their kids or investing in their personal lives is also a priority.
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Later in their careers, their boundaries tend to revolve around time off and adapting to change.
They may answer the phone outside of working hours or spend time working on the weekends, but they also expect that same generosity when they need to leave early for a family obligation or appointment.
Millennials expect real compensation and flexibility
While they lean toward more flexibility like their Gen Z counterparts, millennials' work boundaries often revolve around compensation and benefits.
They're not lured in by false promises of loyalty or fluffy company perks. They want fair compensation and space to invest in their personal lives, even if that means needing to take time off or leave early for an appointment.
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They're less into hustle culture like their older peers, and they care about protecting their time.
They may not job hop as often as their younger colleagues, but they're not afraid to leave a job or company. If their boundaries aren't being respected or they're expected to do more than they're being compensated for, they won't stick around.
Gen Z demands balance and accommodations
Gen Zers are careful about boundaries at work, largely because they're not interested in the hustle culture mentality of their older peers.
They don't want to be expected to show up on weekends or to stay consistently late into the evenings. They value their personal time and well-being most. To them, boundaries are essential because they're working to live.
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Many do feel isolated from older co-workers, partially because they refuse to entertain close personal relationships at work. They also won't feed into the family mentality that boomers boast.
They want to be treated like a human and offered accommodations like a healthy time off policy. But they're not going to support company loyalty at their own expense.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
