“Lazy” millennials demanding work-life balance | 60 Minutes Australia

Anyone aged from their mid-20s to early-40s is considered a millennial. While the group is now the largest generation in Australia, it’s also the most heavily criticised. The flak comes mainly from older generations who are quick to complain that millennials are lazy and entitled, especially in the workplace.

Most of them probably couldn’t care less, but as Tom Steinfort reports, many of the millennials’ bosses are not sure how to handle their increasing demands for greater flexibility so they can have the freedom to enjoy acting their age.

For over forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, Tara Brown, Nick McKenzie and Amelia Adams look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.

#60MinutesAustralia

[aloquicious]

I'm a boomer and I remember being 18 years old, having a job and being able to pay my rent plus buy some groceries with just one week pay. Whatever the reason, overpopulation or currency devaluation, there is a double standard. Its really unfair to ask Millennials to work twice as hard for less.

[TheSilverGate]

It's not laziness, it's knowledge that it's not worth it to just throw your life out of the window for lame wages while the company makes millions.

[idxcredit]

The issue is not where you work from. The issue is that most jobs suck and suck the life out of you, and now people are seeing through it.

[kortyEdna]

As an elder millennial, one of the few advantages is having lived through the Great Recession. My advice. Reduce unnecessary expenses, increase your savings by investing in financial markets and do not sell. One thing I know for sure is that diversifying your income can help insulate you from much of the craziness going on in the world.

[lizmackenzie]

I am Gen-X. I am sick of hearing that Millenials are lazy. I work more now than I ever have and there is no worklife balance like there used to be. It's not acceptable how the top level in corporations earn absurd amounts of money while everyone else is slaving away for so much less.

[karenmiddleton]

I am a Boomer (1964) and I have to say that I agree with the work-life balance approach. I have been working a 4-day work week for 10 years now and it's made a huge change to the quality of my life, after 25+ years of putting in full-time hours. I had to pay my dues and work my way up the ladder in order to afford this lifestyle. However, I don't see anything wrong with an employee being paid to get the work done, versus having your ass in a chair in your office from 9 to 5 even if you've finished your work for the day hours before quitting time. Obviously there are many career choices were this is not possible, but there are millions of jobs where it is. I say GO MILLENNIALS, CHANGE THE WORLD!

[TheOnlyZiTRO]

American Millennial here: one thing nobody is mentioning is THE COMMUTE, that's big here in American cities. I used to have an hour's drive to work & an hour back each day, that's 8 hours a week spent in the car, not to mention the stress of traffic, the money wasted on gas, & pollution from exhaust. Once working from home, the chronic pain in my shoulders went away (it was from stress of screaming at idiot drivers in traffic), Saved 2000$ a year in gas money, gained 384 more hours a year spent with my family from not driving to and from work. So to say Millennials are lazy is stupid. Based off the math, Millennials are very smart.

[ausbare]

I am a boomer and agree with the work life balance.
Work is just a job.
To many think work is the most important part of life.

[YamiNoPri]

When you see incompetent people being promoted, moronic decisions being made and promises unkept, without any pay raise and longer hours every day, you really lose motivation. I'm silent quitting right now and intend to do so until I find something worth my while

[dougNRT]

My father told me his regret in life was not spending enough time with his two children when we were young. Good for the millennials to understand family and experiences are important.

[relentless]

I am Boomer & I 💯 agree with these millennials! After working for several companies/firms & giving extra & my all, I GOT NOTHING but taken advantage of so I decided to do it my way and haven’t looked back! I’m not wealthy but with God’s help I’ve always had at least one car with gas in it, a roof over my head in NICE neighborhoods and food to eat. I’m now nearing retirement and my life will either not change much or get better! I stopped spending between 1.5 to 2 hours commuting years ago. My sibling worked for the same company (commuting approximately 2 hours a day) in their basement (with no windows) and HAD to work EVERY Tuesday of those 20 years even when on vacation or sick for those 20 years! She even had to take a PAY CUT after 10 years and still continued to work for this company. COVID happened and she was unceremoniously & without even a thank you, let go while newer employees were kept to do her job. Working your butt off for others doesn’t always bring success & rarely brings peace!

[ryanlong]

I'm 30, and in the last 4 years, I've been laid off from 2 different jobs where I worked my ass off- staying late, going the extra mile, trying to impress my superiors. I've come to the realization that you really are just a number to most employers. No need to sacrifice your life for the company when they can kick you out the door tomorrow.

[travisgarrett]

I remember hearing a nurse say that she's talked to a thousand people on their death bed and not a single one of them said "Gee, I wish I would've spent more time at the office." In fact the opposite is true, they wish they had spent more time with family.

[Vitagirl]

My daughter is a millennial and she graduated from university a very demanding university an incredible workload she just got her first job in a very stressful industry and equally demanding city and she stands up for herself and is defining her life as she wants it to be I am really proud of her she works hard but in a smarter way and is not going to give up quality of life like our generation has!!!This generation is not going to be the taken advantage of!!!

[hairofbullets]

I am absolutely in love with all the folks from the older generations chiming in with their support here. It really touches me. We love you guys!

[AnnBurrow-vbtt]

At this point, I still explore the ability to retire early but that will involve maximizing my cash on hand while minimizing my income to get the largest 0bamacare subsidy possible to pay for healthcare. Luckily, 0bamacare is only income tested and not means tested like Medicaid is, at least for now.

[shannoncarswell]

We’re not lazy, we’re tired of working for nothing and not being able to afford anything that can make our lives a little less miserable.

[Anonymous-mdqp]

I’m a millennial who works 70 hours a week, plus the commute to and from work. I hate every second of it. There is no way I would ever have kids and bring them into this horrible society that we have created.

[godzillamothra]

I'm a millennial and a small business owner, work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, only have less than 10 days holiday per year, and yet can hardly afford to buy a nice house or health care. Competition for small business owner like me are fierce. I feel like we are all racing to the bottom.

[SomethingSomethingg]

That professor is absolutely nuts. Honestly, what's the point of even having a house if he thinks that you should only be in 7 hours a day?