Younger generations are often criticized as being lazy and entitled, but this isn’t a new phenomenon at all. From branding Gen Z as the “snowflake generation” to accusing Millennials of prioritizing buying avocados over houses, many Boomers see them as someone who hasn't figured out life yet.
But can we blame them? With the cost of living crisis, climate change, the pandemic, and geopolitical tensions weighing heavily on their minds, it can be hard for anyone. Evidence shows that nearly half of Zoomers (46%) and four in 10 millennials (39%) feel stressed most of the time. Not to mention burnout at work, which has been at an all-time high since 2021. So it’s no surprise that these youngsters prefer to do the bare minimum.
It seems that the younger generations are simply tired of the chaos and pressures of the modern world. Fortunately, the subreddit “Anti Work” is a place where they can vent their frustrations and blow off at least some of the accumulated steam.
We’ve compiled a list of screenshots that prove the struggles of Millennials and Gen Z and why we should consider cutting them some slack for not showing up as their best selves every day.
#1 Couldn't Have Said It Any Better ? ?
Image credits: aabidhasan
#2 The Free Market Works Both Ways
Image credits: AgentDoggett
#3 No Teacher Shortage
Image credits: AlienatedDeer
The youngest employees are already feeling stressed and exhausted, even in the earliest stages of their careers. Psychotherapist Kim Hollingdale believes that the younger generations have “the worst collection of stressors” among workers right now - from a lack of power at work to the hustle culture and inability to relax. Although all generations might face a lot of professional challenges, the youth have the least authority to set boundaries and say no to tasks. Many feel pressure to perform and take on a big workload that leaves them exhausted.
#4 That’s Pretty Much Every Major American Uni…
Image credits: IdolizedSubsidy
#5 Maybe You Are Right
Image credits: thriftyknocking_14
#6 No One Wants To Work. Our Turnover Is Terrible
Image credits: lindyhomer
Another big stressor for Gen Z and Millennials is money, with about 40% reporting worries about their finances. Of course, many workers have also encountered similar problems, but it’s more severe now as the cost of living is rising much faster than salaries. For example, in the US, home prices increased by 121% in the last 56 years, while income rose only by 29%. This makes it more difficult to reach milestones like marriage and homeownership.
#7 I Want To Watch This Show!
Image credits: xhqshs
#8 Could Not Agree More
Image credits: squat001
#9 Why Indeed
Image credits: Captain_Calamari_
#10 Retirement Age
Image credits: mydmtusername
Additionally, people who feel like they are unprepared or have failed to reach big goals might suffer from milestone anxiety. It may seem that everyone else is graduating, buying a house, getting married, being promoted, or starting a successful business, and you’re running slightly behind to take these steps. New research suggests that the pressure to hit such milestones is affecting younger people more than previous generations. Shockingly, even 83% of 16 to 24-year-olds feel forced to reach them. In retrospect, that’s way too young to be worrying about not being good enough just because you don’t have a house and all your friends do.
#11 Comunism
Image credits: PanJaszczurka
#12 When You’re So Antiwork You End Up Working
Image credits: billydevil666
#13 Who’s The Boss Now?
Image credits: tylerro2
Nevertheless, in order to reach these aims faster, Gen Z and Millennials pick up additional work or start side hustles to get extra money. Freelance content creation, graphic design, small online businesses, and tutoring are just a few popular options among younger people that are flexible enough to combine with a full-time job and provide added income.
#14 Telling Them Not To Throw A Party, Throwing A Party, Then Getting Fired For Your Reaction
Image credits: tieshatwo
#15 This ??
Image credits: Existentialidiot83
#16 As It Should Be
Image credits: CheeseSneeze99
These pursuits help to unleash creativity and make them more financially stable, all while creating a passion project or a brand that belongs solely to them. However, long additional working hours have been linked to exhaustion and burnout, which Zoomers and Millennials are strongly connected to.
#17 It's So Simple, Yet So Hard For People To Grasp
Image credits: abhorrenttavern04
#18 Self Care On Your Free Time Is Priority Above All Else
Image credits: BroderickHunter
#19 It’s Not That People Don’t Want To Work Anymore, Even If I Was Rich I’d Still Work Because I’d Be Bored, But Our Futures Are F**ked Right Now With These Living Wages
Image credits: reddit.com
Contrary to older generations’ beliefs, their successors aren’t work-shy; they’re just not that fond of hustle culture. Today, many focus less on working to the point of extreme fatigue for an employer in order to move up the corporate ladder and more on building their dream careers by themselves. It also acts as a security blanket in case a company fires them. All that’s left is to move forward or take on your passion project full-time. After you start working for yourself, you can’t really get fired.
#20 I'd Show Up Every Day Like Spongebob «im Ready Im Ready Im Ready»
Image credits: reddit.com
#21 I’m Probably Going To Be Fired For This… But I Don’t Care
Image credits: Cherry_P0pper
#22 Can't We Just Troll Sue Them Into Oblivion?
Image credits: reddit.com
While searching for a healthy work-life balance, some younger employees are “quiet quitting” their jobs. It’s a phenomenon when workers are fulfilling their responsibilities and working hours without going above and beyond for a company that just doesn’t seem to care about them. They’re merely starting to work for what they’re paid for. This is a response to many things in work culture - unreasonable expectations, a toxic work environment, a heavy workload, and micromanagement. If these issues aren't addressed, the employee may have no choice but to dial back on their efforts.
#23 F**k You Pepsi
Image credits: FerbFletcherAsBond
#24 We Had To Take An "Anonymous" Survey At Work Today. This Is My Somewhat Strongly Worded Response
Image credits: John_Sinclair
#25 Over The Two Years, Can't Afford To Give A Living Wage Either
Image credits: Monsur_Ausuhnom
Of course, there are areas where they could improve, for example, by changing the ways they choose to unwind after work. Gen Z is more likely to use social media to relax, with some spending 4.5 hours on it daily. This makes it more difficult to ignore work notifications that are a persistent reminder of all the haunting tasks waiting for you, which doesn’t sound calming at all. Also, if you’re always on the phone, it’s more compelling to answer a work text than if you’re taking a stroll outside or having dinner with your family.
#26 Teen Vogue’s Out There Educating
Image credits: DangerNoodleDoodle
#27 Undercover Bum
Image credits: Go_Habs_Go31
#28 Oh Hell Yes!
Image credits: DegenerateCharizard
Gen Z and Millennials desire a more balanced and purpose-driven approach to work. They encourage companies to adapt to new values centered around their employees and focus on their mental health and overall well-being. As a result, employers are changing to attract and maintain this young workforce.
For example, some jobs provide their workers with unplanned mental health days a year, and the team is regularly reminded to take breaks and prohibited from doing any work on their days off.
The ones calling Gen Z and Millennials lazy aren’t really seeing the full picture here. Young people aren’t slacking right now but bringing a much-needed whiff of fresh air into the rigid work culture.
#29 Well This Is The Most Realistic I’ve Been Towards This
Image credits: GrimReaper3am
#30 Pay Our Teachers More!
Image credits: Urkylurker
#31 Most Truthful Reply
Image credits: DizzyDrunkDude
#32 Just Gonna Leave This Here
Image credits: black_booty_tooty
#33 Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home
Image credits: KendrasUsername
#34 Tear It All Down
Image credits: DaFunkJunkie
#35 Saving Money By Eating At Home
Image credits: ndnd_of_omicron
#36 This Is Not The Sick Own They Think It Is
Image credits: SeaworthinessJumpy95
#37 Just Get A Job
Image credits: UberFacts
#38 Gottem
Image credits: Rushkovski
#39 *cries In Millennial/Zoomer*
Image credits: GiveMeYourBussy
#40 Please Come Save Us Alien Invaders
Image credits: reddit.com
#41 There's Not A Teacher Shortage. There's A Teacher Pay Shortage
Image credits: JoeyZasaa
#42 This Showed Up On My Newsfeed Today And I Couldn’t Agree More
Image credits: corbinbelasco
#43 !!! This
Image credits: aircretedomehome
#44 The American Dream Is To Move Out
Image credits: reddit.com
#45 McDonald's Can Pay. Join The Mcboycott
Image credits: StageRepulsive8697
#46 Absolutely Removed From Reality
Image credits: kevinowdziej
#47 Asking The Real Questions
Image credits: No_Technician_3694
#48 The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Image credits: Cybordad
#49 Yes, Hahaha- Yes!
Image credits: AceZPZ
#50 Entitled Bricks
Image credits: collegefessing
