The 4 biggest differences between Gen Z and boomer coworkers, according to a manager of both
Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI
- Jamie Lynch, an operations manager, has noticed key differences in her employees of different ages.
- Gen Z values work-life balance, unlike older generations who prioritize job commitment.
- COVID-19 influenced Gen Z's approach to work, emphasizing health over climbing the ladder.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jamie Lynch, a 34-year-old operations manager and content creator in Ontario, Canada. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I've been an operations manager for eight years at various companies, including my latest role at a real-estate media company.
I now also run Simply Jamie, where I create content focused on conversations with my Gen Z employees on social media.
Kassandra Melnyk
As a manager who has worked with people of all ages, I've noticed differences between employees of different generations.
They aren't necessarily bad, but they're eye-opening differences in how we work. Here are four of the biggest ones I've noticed.
1. To call out or not to call out
For the most part, boomers won't call off work. Instead, they might come to work and say, "My car broke down. I had to borrow my neighbor's car to arrive on time," — but they still made it in.
Millennials can be that way, too. When I worked at a restaurant in high school, my manager still expected me to come to work if I was sick — there wasn't an option or a second thought about not working.
Gen Z, on the other hand, might say, "Well, my car is broken," or "I'm sick, so I can't come in." They don't feel an overwhelming guilt about calling in sick when needed.
I think some of this feeling stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. For three years, we told everyone not to leave their houses if they felt sick, and the younger generation has carried that message into the workplace.
I know some employees in the older generation dislike the younger generation for it, but I respect them, and I wish I had a bit more of their work-life balance.
2. To make small talk or to just not
Boomers and millennials are more known for 'water cooler' talk — or small talk conversations in the office. Before technology took over, that's what everyone did. You'd talk about the weather; we weren't all holding phones to entertain us.
Now, Gen Z doesn't feel the need to have those awkward conversations at work. They've grown up with a new form of distraction that previous generations did not have.
COVID-19 also occurred at a critical juncture in the lives of many members of the younger generation, causing them to miss experiences like proms and face the challenge of attending college from home because they had nothing else. Due to this, they keep to themselves.
I don't blame Gen Z, but older generations judge younger ones for being less social.
3. What they know and what they don't
Gen Z is tech-savvy. I consider myself low-tech and often ask my younger employees for help with my phone. They can also grasp new things quickly.
I've noticed that Gen Z sometimes doesn't know how to do other important things, like writing a check, driving without a GPS, or mailing a letter — that's a big one. To be fair, why would they? It's rare for people to send letters anymore.
Boomers can do these things as they grew up doing them, but technology is often new and harder for them since they spent most of their lives without it. Learning how to sign in and out of apps, for instance, can be a bit more difficult.
4. What they care about
The older generations seem to be more worried about job security. They believe in working hard because that's what you're supposed to do: you go to work and you work.
They're also more willing to deal with difficult bosses. I remember my mom would say, "You just can't let people get to you. All your bosses are going to suck," and that was the widely held belief.
Gen Z, however, has a different mindset. They're not as focused on getting promoted or constantly moving up. They need money and want a job, but they're not necessarily aiming to climb the ladder.
Gen Z also sets stronger boundaries around things like criticism. I don't think it's bad — if your job isn't your whole life and personality, why should you worry about losing it?
Gen Z does seem to care about social issues, like saving the planet. For example, reusable cups are important to them.
Every generation brings something different to the workplace, a whole new set of strengths and weaknesses. Understanding and using them as advantages is the key to harmoniously working together.
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