Lisa O
Each generation has its likes and dislikes. Millennials and Gen Z have been shaped by a completely different world than the Boomers grew up with. In the modern workplace (and outside of it, too), there are a ton of Boomer trends that Millennials and Gen Z are hoping will disappear soon. Let’s check out 20 of the most dreaded Boomer trends that the younger generations wish would just die already.
“The Customer Is Always Right” Mentality
Gen Z and Millennials think that the “customer is always right” ideology should be left in the ashy remains of the 20th Century. They think that this concept enables icky, entitled customers to treat hardworking service industry employees badly. In fact, many Millennials and Gen Z want businesses to stand up for their employees and tell abusive customers to “get the hell out.”
The “Live to Work” Mentality
The days of sacrificing your entire life for your job are over. Millennials and Gen Z value mental health and work-life balance over being a so-called “workhorse” like many Boomers have encouraged. They don’t think they should have to define themselves by their place of work. They also don’t have time for someone to suck out all their energy until they’re a shell of a human being.
Casual Racism and Microaggressions
Gen Z and Millennials have little patience for the microaggressions and racist comments that many Boomers have excused away as “just jokes.” Even if something is said with the intent of being humorous or an innocent mistake, they will often openly shame and expose those who say racist things. They say, “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t mean it,” and there’s always room for learning and improving.
Technophobia and Refusal to Adapt
Millennials and Gen Z’ers are sick of Boomers willingly ignoring the basic needs of the modern world. The new generations see excuses like “I’m too old to learn” as pure laziness and something that should have been overcome long ago. Email, social media, and online banking are necessities in today’s life, and those who choose not to adapt are often judged and seen as irresponsible in the eyes of younger generations.
Voting Against Self-Interest
Many Millennials and Gen Z will never truly understand the Boomer mentality of voting for the exact policies and politicians that are hurting them financially and in many other aspects. The younger generations are far more likely to vote based on topics such as healthcare, education, climate change, and fair laws in general. They are less likely to be die-hard followers of a single party or vote solely on a single topic.
Dropping In Unannounced and Disrespecting Boundaries
With the world at the tips of our fingers at any given moment, Millennials and Gen Z’ers see Boomers dropping in on them unannounced as rude and intrusive. Everyone is entitled to their personal space and time. They don’t think it’s okay to just show up at any given moment.
Shaming Young People for Economic Struggles
Millennials and Gen Z are sick of older generations’ guilt-tripping and finger-pointing about their personal financial decisions and the lack thereof. The opportunities that Boomers had in their younger ages are no longer the same for the generations after them. Also, millennials and Gen Z are less likely to believe that their poverty is due to their own laziness. They’re more likely to blame the systemic flaws around them.
Treating Addiction as a Joke
Boomers often see addiction as a personality trait or something to joke about than Millennials or Gen Z. Substance abuse is a medical condition that plagues families at stunning rates. Younger generations see it as something that should be helped, not judged or laughed off as some lifestyle choice. Millennials and Gen Z believe seeking help should be encouraged and applauded, not ashamed or humiliated.
Blind Loyalty vs. Political Accountability
We are living in the most bitterly divided political climate in modern history. Millennials and Gen Zs are sick of the Boomers who claim to “vote the party line” without regard to the actual candidates or their policies. The younger generations are far more likely to thoroughly research each candidate in any election. They vote based on the individual’s policies and actions, not the party logo next to their name.
The Perfect Lawn
Many see the Boomer tendencies to maintain a perfect lawn and landscape as pure waste and an environmental disaster. This time and money is much better spent elsewhere in the eyes of younger generations. Sustainability and low-maintenance landscaping is a wave of the future and something Millennials and Gen Z are more than happy to adapt.
Victim Blaming and Shaming
Younger generations are calling out the victim blaming and shaming that has been an unspoken rule of Boomers for decades. The survivors of sexual assault and harassment should be supported and believed, not accused of asking for it because of the way they were dressed or their past. The younger generations want a culture shift towards consent, respect and accountability, not victim blaming and shame.
Voting Against Family-Friendly Policies
Millennials and Gen Z’ers often scratch their heads in confusion when Boomers vote against paid parental leave, affordable child care and access to healthcare for all. Then, they complain about the declining birth rates among the younger generations. If Boomers truly want families to have children, they should support the policies that would make raising children more affordable and feasible.
Idolizing Their Own Childhood
They are sick of the Boomers constantly speaking of their own childhoods as if they were superior to every child that comes after. If Boomers were given the same toys, tech and entertainment children today have, they would likely embrace it just as eagerly.
“We Had to Walk 10 Miles to School in the Snow Both Ways”
Millennials and Gen Z are done with the mentality that just because the Boomers survived the harsher aspects of their ages, the younger generations should suffer through the same things. The mentality that making life harder for the younger generations is the way to go is something the younger generations no longer subscribe to.
Negative Stereotyping and Generalizations
Not only will Millennials and Gen Z reject the stereotypical labels of “lazy” or “entitled,” they also don’t want the negative stereotypes and generalizations Boomers make about their generations. They say it’s unfair and unproductive to make assumptions about entire age groups. Instead, individuals should be evaluated based on their actions and character, not their peers.
Resistance to Change and Progress
Gen Z and Millenials often feel hindered by Boomers who resist change and progress in the workplace, in social justice movements, and in their personal lives. They believe the world is always changing for better or for worse and we must be open to new ideas and ways of doing things. The younger generations are more inclined to be early adopters of change and willing to make the world a better place.
Tone-Deaf Advice
Much of the advice offered By Boomers to Millennials or Gen Z, comes across as tone-deaf and oblivious to their reality. They don’t need to hear “just work harder” or “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Such advice doesn’t consider the systemic roadblocks and challenges faced by the younger generations. They want Boomers to be more attentive listeners and less apt to lecture.
Calling Participation Trophies a Reward for Doing Nothing
Millennials and Gen Z aren’t afraid to point out the hypocrisy of Boomers who claim to despise participation trophies, when in fact they were the ones who created the environment that encouraged such things. “It’s not the fault of these children, it’s the fault of their parents and coaches who treated an empty trophy and false praise as a worthwhile accomplishment,” they say.
Demanding Unquestioning Respect
While Millenials and Gen Z subscribe to the notion of treating people with basic human decency, they do not believe in granting respect solely based on age. They feel respect needs to be earned through behavior and character, not because one has been around longer than others. The younger generations are more likely to question authorities who abuse their authority or fail to uphold their responsibilities.
Refusing to Pass the Torch
Last but not least, Millennials and Gen Z want Boomers to get out of the way and stop blocking the younger generations from leadership roles and decision making opportunities. They believe fresh perspectives and new ideas are what drive progress and that Boomers who hoard power and resist change are impeding society’s movement. The younger generations are willing to take responsibility and lead the way and they want Boomers to have faith in them.