What has happened to the work ethic? Nothing?!
Last Updated on November 2, 2022 / Employee Relations
by Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR
As an author and frequent speaker on the generations in the workplace, I’m often asked “what has happened to the work ethic of our workers?” Has work ethic really changed? Or, is it a matter of how we are getting work done that has actually changed?
Radio Babies (Born 1930 – 1945)
The Radio Babies grew up when having a job wasn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do. So, keeping a job was very important. As such, we see this generation, even today, having 110% loyalty to the company. They will likely be the first one to the office and the last one to leave. To them, a work ethic is giving all the time you can possibly give to the company.
Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964)
The Baby Boomers were dubbed the Baby Boomer generation because there are lots and lots of them. As a result, to get noticed and succeed on the job meant being seen. Your boss and the company needed to “SEE” you. If you were seen, then it was perceived that you were loyal and flexible to the company. So, when we asked them what work ethic means to them, it isn’t a surprise that we were told “face time”.
Gen Xers (1965 – 1976)
The Gen Xers grew up in a very different time than the previous two generations. For one, their parents were often both working or separated with a single working parent. Because of work commitments, the parents weren’t around and the kids were often left to their own devices. Secondly, this generation also saw their parents being loyal to their employer and getting downsized after so many years of loyalty. As a result, the work ethic for this generation is ensuring a good balance between work and personal life.
Gen Ys (1977 – 1990)
>Gen Ys do not believe that work defines who they are. They generally work to live not live to work, which is a big change from previous generations. They’ve grown up with technology exploding at warp speed providing “new ways” to work. As a result, their idea of work ethic is working wherever they can when they want to. This generation’s idea of work ethic is work shouldn’t interrupt their lives and can be done anywhere, anytime.
Millennials (1991 – present)
Our youngest generation, the Millennials, are still establishing what their work ethic will look like for them. However, in talking with them, it seems that they have grown up with the “option” to work or not work, with minimal encouragement from their parents. As the trophy generation, they have been doted on and feel that their personal life is more important. We’ve also found this generation needs deadlines to get work done. No need to do today what can be done tomorrow.
So, what does this all mean? Has work ethic gone down the tubes? I don’t think so. If you re-read each description of work ethic by the generations, they are all talking about “how” they do the work. But, in reality, isn’t work ethic about getting the job done? If so, then we should be focused on the output of the work and not the process we use to get there. One person may get the job done by working a 15 hour day and another may get it done by working a short day and additional hours at night. If the work is completed correctly and submitted on time, it shouldn’t matter how or when it’s worked on, as long as they get it done, and get it done right.
This is a very hard concept for many to accept. We often want other generations to get work done “the way we do”. We have to learn to accept our differences, and focus on the end results. If the results aren’t there, it becomes a performance problem, not a work ethic issue.
Bottom line; work ethic has evolved and changed, but it is still strong in the workplace. We just need to learn that work ethic is about the output and not the process.
Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, a Senior Human Resources Management Consultant is President of Strategic Human Resources, Inc. (www.strategicHRinc.com) and can be reached at Robin@strategicHRinc.com.
