A recent YouGov survey reveals a significant gulf in attitudes towards work between different generations in the United States. While 82 percent of Americans aged 65 and older believe that employees should always go above and beyond at work, just 50 percent of those aged 18 to 29 agree with that sentiment. Conversely, 65 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds think that employees should do exactly what they're paid for – not more, not less. That is the core idea of “quiet quitting” and it doesn’t resonate well with older Americans. Just 28 percent of those aged 65 and older agree with that “no extra mile approach”.
And while the “quiet quitting” trend is probably not as big as the term’s internet hype suggests, employers are well-advised to take young workers seriously. The pandemic has shown that flexibility and results can go hand in hand and the next generation of workers seems adamant to strike a better balance between work and their personal lives.
