I was thinking about…

Generational Differences in Work Culture

By Andy Lee

Being from the Gen X generation and seeing how work culture has changed over the years has been quite the eye opener. Our parents never questioned the idea that hard work was a virtue in and of itself. They believed that putting your nose to the grindstone and sacrificing personal time was just what you did to get ahead.

As kids of the 80s, we saw the toll this took on our parents. Missed little league games, family dinners wolfed down before rushing back to the office, vacations postponed. It’s no wonder so many of us swore we’d never end up like that.

When we entered the workforce, we brought a different mindset. We saw our parents laid off after decades of loyalty and realized that the old social contract between employer and employee was dead. Companies weren’t looking out for us, so why should we give them our all?

But, by no means were we slackers. We started and lived the mantra work smarter, not harder. Gen X was the first generation to welcome and embracer technology in the workplace. We foresaw how the use of computers and the internet could make us more efficient and productive.

We also valued our personal lives more than our parents did. We fought for things like flexible schedules, telecommuting, and generous vacation policies. We believed that life was too short to spend it all at the office.

Of course, this created some friction with older generations who saw us as entitled or lazy. But we knew that working ourselves to death wasn’t the answer. We wanted balance.

Now, as we move into leadership positions, we’re trying to create work environments that reflect our values. We want our employees to work hard, but we also want them to have fulfilling lives outside of work.

It’s not always easy to find that balance, but we’re trying. We know that happy, well-rounded employees are more productive and creative. They’re also more likely to stick around for the long haul.

So to all the Gen Xers out there still fighting the good fight, I say keep it up. Keep pushing for change and leading by example. Show the world that you can have a successful career and a rich personal life.

And to the generations coming up behind us, take notes. Learn from our mistakes and our triumphs. Find what works for you and don’t be afraid to blaze your own trail.

Stay true, keep fighting for that work-life balance! 💪⌨️🌴