GenZ: Unsung Heroes

GenZ: Unsung heroes

There is so much chatter about how GenZ is lazy and how they don't want to work/have no work ethic. Well... I actually, as a GenXer am inspired by what I see in our younger generation. These young people have witnessed the stress, the zero work/life balance, the struggle to maintain, let alone, get ahead, of their parents and grandparents. GenZers are faced with the reality that no matter how hard they work, they will most likely never be able to afford to buy their own home. Rental prices are not sustainable with minimum wage. Heck, they are barely sustainable at $20/hr. Then you factor in how the prices at the grocery store are increasing exponentially; we are often faced with the choice of buying groceries or paying rent. 

I recently experienced a situation where I was injured at home. I went to work the next day, on crutches but began my tasks. I was told that I had to leave because it was against corporate policy to be there while on restrictions. My position was in an office. No reason on a daily basis to be in the rest of the building and I did not provide patient care. I left. My daughter the weekend receptionist was offered my position. My daughter is GenZ. She worked every day, without any further training, but was replaced one month in, because she wasn't trained and they wanted someone with more experience. They told her this *after* the position was posted on a job platform. That was a Friday. Monday, they hired the DONs cousin, a woman who had never worked outside the home. Oh, the "policy" that was used to get me out, is not actually in the facility handbook nor the corporate handbook. When I asked a person from corporate about that, I was told, "Not all policies are in the handbook." As a former recruiter, I can assure you, that if it is not in the handbook, it is not a policy. But, here we are. 

While I am highly upset about what happened to me, I am far more angry about what happened to my daughter. This was her first grown-up, post-high school, corporate job. Welcome to the world of nepotism and unethical practices. 

GenZ is not lazy and they do not lack a work ethic. They have learned from us that it doesn't matter how hard you work, how much you sacrifice, or how much you play the game; you are easily replaced, even before your seat gets cold. I wonder if we GenXers learned this earlier if we could have pathed a smoother path for our kids. 

So, next time you want to talk badly about the younger generations, they learned through us, what they will and will not allow. We should be so proud of them!