Each generation has its own values and attitudes that spark their imaginations and influence how they see the world. Boomers were raised with a set of principles to live by. But Gen Z is just starting to make their voices heard and have a whole new point of view. This new generation is challenging or downright ignoring many of the values Boomers hold near and dear.
It is more than a rebellion – it is about survival in an evolving landscape. In this list, we bring you ten Boomer values Gen Z is saying goodbye to.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
Traditional Work Ethic
For one, boomers tend to value working long hours for the same company and slowly moving up the career ladder. Gen Zers, in contrast, want a better work-life balance. They want flexible hours. They struggle with being stuck in dead-end jobs because they are more willing to move on to different work before settling for less and then feeling unfulfilled.
Formal Communication Styles
Workplaces have changed, but many cater to boomer preferences: Face-to-face meetings or phone calls, formal emails, etc. They respect clear, at-work communication.
On the flip side, Gen Z prefers texting or instant messaging, emojis and casual language. To them, it seems like a more efficient way.
Saving All The Dollars
The Boomer advice is typically to save for the future, buy a house, buy into the stock market & wait for retirement. They tend to be more conservative investors.
Gen Z wants cryptocurrency gains, nomadic travel and luxury experiences now. They don’t want a savings account with every last cent they own costumed away.
Defined Gender Roles
The boomers were raised in an era with clear gender roles – men performed specific societal tasks, as did women. Gen Z challenges these roles and encourages us to look at gender in a more fluid way. They feel that everyone should be able to live their life freely without being confined to traditional rules.
Homeownership as a Milestone
Buying a house is a rite of passage – it symbolizes stability, and for Boomers, it is often one of the biggest life milestones you can achieve. Gen Z sees rentals as more financially reasonable, since they are burdened with high property prices and student loan debt. To Gen Z, the ability to take advantage of new opportunities while being unencumbered by a home is more important.
Formal Education Pathways
Baby boomers often see a college degree as a requirement for success. Now, many Gen Zers are questioning that path because of ballooning tuition costs and the numerous other learning options at their disposal. Instead, they are much more open to online courses and vocational training or starting their own businesses instead of going the traditional college route.
Brand Loyalty
Baby boomers are generally more loyal to brands they have known and loved for years. Gen Z are less brand loyal and more likely to switch to a different brand for a variety of reasons, such as aligning value systems, perception of quality, image etc. They do their research and read the reviews before buying.
Privacy Over Sharing
Boomers come from a generation where information was considered personal and kept between trusted friends or family. Gen Z grew up with social media and has no problem sharing their lives with others.
Traditional Consumption of Media
Boomers are still quite attached to their television news, paper delivery and radio talk. It’s all digital-first for Gen Z – like binge-watching Netflix and getting the news from social media.
Pyramid Structures in the Workplace
Baby Boomers expect a more traditional distribution of decision-making power – top to bottom. As for Gen Z, they prefer a more collegial method. They want places to work where what everyone says is important, no matter your rank. More than anything, they are looking for workplaces where you feel like a team and have an open dialogue about how things are going.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.