Won't go above and beyond | Gen Z are stereotyped as headstrong and lazy - how should HR approach this?

There is a growing disconnect between older generations of workers and those considered ‘Gen Z’ -born between the years 1997 and 2013.

This separation has been best illustrated by a recent report from the hospitality sector, where over 50s make up a third of the workforce, that revealed older staff members feel Gen Zers 'don't have the same work ethic or willingness to go the extra mile as the older generation'.

Indeed, it seems as though older generations have a perception of younger workers as being less willing to work, lazier, more difficult to get along with, and less able to debate and disagree healthily.

There will be a myriad of reasons Gen Z workers are different to those who came before them. Many joined the workforce during the pandemic, many have lived through multiple economic recessions, and most importantly, are the consumers and stewards of social media. But why does this generation seem less willing to ‘go the extra mile’ compared with their older counterparts?