www.businessinsider.com: Thanks, Gen Z. The workers of America owe ya.
The recent shade-throwing over how effing soul-crushing the 40-hour workweek is might obscure how much change you — with a big assist from the pandemic — are bringing to many jobs. And it's clear you're not done.
6 comments:
I have always believed that Gen Z would be an active and involved generation. (Although I have to say that I view generations as a construct that society created to help divide us even more but I won’t go into that here.) Maybe it was the upbringing, maybe it’s the fact that they were raised with the internet, or maybe it’s a million other things, but Gen Z seems to know what they want and what they deserve. Many can see it as entitlement, and of course there are members of Gen Z who are entitled, as there are in every single generation. But I see it as putting their foot down to mistreatment. The argument that older folks have is always along the lines of, “well back in my day…” where they go on to explain a very toxic and unhappy work environment, speaking about it like it was the golden age, is an empty argument. They often seem to say “well I had to suffer so you should, too” which proves how selfish they are. I can’t wait to see what else Gen Z and the rising generation after them will bring about.
This was really refreshing to read. I feel like most of the articles I read about younger generations pushing for a better workplace environment and a better work life balance talk about the younger generations as if they’re lazy. The rhetoric is often “we survived this long suffering and thus the younger generation must as well.” That was honestly what I was expecting from this article so I was pleasantly surprised when it praised gen z for standing up for basic rights. I never realized that this movement for better working conditions started with tech companies. That makes sense since most people in tech are young. I just never realized it. This trend is also being seen in the entertainment industry, and not just with the recent strikes. No more 10 out of 12 is a movement that has been gaining traction and I definitely agree with it. After a 12 hour work day people probably aren’t doing the best work they could be.
Thanks, Gen Z…
I think it becoming increasingly apparent that the pandemic has shaped Generation Z in many ways. Most articles seem to focus on the negative ways it has changed us, how our social cues are behind development, or how we are a generation addicted to our phones. So when I saw this article's title I assumed it was yet another complaint about the pitfalls of our generation. So, I was pleasantly surprised when this article instead was thanking us, or at least appreciating our efforts and expectations about what it means to be in a workforce. I can’t think of many things that have come out of COVID that feel beneficial but I how we have re-thought humans and their relationships with their jobs, pushed for unions and better conditions does make me think that our break from work (COVID) might in the end give us a final gift. I think this awakening to how we want to live in our work environments will take a long time to actually create change but I am glad that their is a call for it now.
Let me first just say that I am proud to be a part of this generation. A generation that takes no shit and will live their lives the way that they want to regardless of the world around them. My generation has played a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of the workplace, championing values that prioritize inclusivity, work-life balance, and social responsibility. This has not only transformed workplace cultures but has also sparked crucial conversations around issues such as mental health, diversity, and environmental sustainability. In advocating for a healthier work environment, Gen Z has prompted a collective reassessment of traditional norms. There is an emphasis on mental and physical well-being for a more balanced approach to professional and personal life. Something that as a CMU student is hard enough to navigate already. The collective influence has been a catalyst for positive change in workplaces across the world paving the way for a more compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable future for workers everywhere for years to come. Pretty cool stuff.
Seeing the gradual transition of public opinion from “Gen Z is lazy they don't want to work” to eventually “you know maybe Gen Z's right this is stupid” has been really funny. For a long time, people have been trying to pretend that corporations somehow had their best interest in mind and that the workplace as it is right now is because this is what's best for the workers and have sorely needed a new perspective to tell them that it doesn't make sense. The pandemic just happened to be the turning point for a lot of people to realize that, shocker, the corporations don't like the workers and don't care about them. I think the article points out side houses and I think that's a really good example of one of the things that showed older generations that Gen Z isn’t just lazy but just doesn't like the current workplace and would rather struggle with a side hustle as a main form of income then work in an office.
This idea challenges the stereotype that Gen Z is all about flipping the work script. It suggests that the craving for change isn't just their thing; it's something everyone feels. I agree. I wonder, however, if this whole shift in how we see work is because of a new generation or if it's just how societies naturally evolve? It's a fresh take on the whole workplace evolution, making you think it's not just a generational thing but a bigger, ongoing shift in how we approach our jobs. One key point is that they think work should be more than just a paycheck, a shift from the old-school mindset. It's a vibe that got amplified during the pandemic when everything about how we work got a rethink. Gen Z seems to be leading the charge for change, but the reflection brings up a cool point—it might not just be about us. Change could be something that's just part of the deal.
Post a Comment