More and more Gen Zers and millennials are demanding work-life balance
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- Gen Zers and millennials are continuing to rethink their identities in relation to their jobs.
- Both groups think that if the economy worsens, it'll be harder to ask for flexibility at work.
- Younger generations admire peers who clearly define work-life boundaries, a Deloitte survey found.
No matter where you live in the world, the role of work in your daily life is changing. That's because Gen Zers and millennials are continuing to rethink their identities in relation to their jobs, particularly in the midst of high inflation, higher mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty.
"I always used to think, work is just work, and it isn't really so important. It was more important to me to accomplish my personal goals. Work was a means to an end. In any case, the more I work, the more I notice that my self-confidence is extremely defined by it," a UK millennial male said according to a 2023 survey by consultancy firm Deloitte of more than 22,000 Gen Zers and millennials around the world.
Nearly half of Gen Zs — and the majority of millennials — say their job is still central to their sense of identity, second only to their family and friends, the survey found.
But there is a strong desire among these generations to achieve better work-life balance. In fact, more than any other trait among their peers, Gen Zs and millennials admire the ability to balance work and life priorities, the survey found.
"I always used to think, work is just work, and it isn't really so important. It was more important to me to accomplish my personal goals. Work was a means to an end. In any case, the more I work, the more I notice that my self-confidence is extremely defined by it," a millennial in Germany said, according to the survey.
Both Gen Zers and millennials worry that if the economy worsens, it will make it more difficult for younger workers to ask for flexibility at work and improve their work-life balance, the survey found.
Though respondents do believe employers have made progress enabling better work/life balance since pre-pandemic, according to the survey.
As more and more members of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) enter the workforce, they're not shy about inquiring about work-life balance on job interviews — and looking for red flags from potential employers.
Insider's Juliana Kaplan and Rebecca Knight wrote that while the oldest members of Gen Z haven't been in the workforce long at age 27, they started working during a tight labor market, where unemployment was low and opportunities were high. And they know the power they hold — and they're OK with reshaping the workplace
Gen Z's hopes and dreams aren't one-size fits all, Insider's Alexandra York writes, as they prioritize flexibility and individual goals over linear growth. "Many don't want to take a traditional path into the 9-to-5 culture. Many people are trying to take a path their parents didn't."
After all, maybe everyone doesn't want to be Elon Musk and follow his live-at-work ethos.