According to the analysis by ClickMeeting, almost one third of Polish millennials (28-44 years old) and one in four generation X (45-59 years old) feel overworked. Among both Zs (18-27 years old) and baby boomers (60 years old and over), less than one in five respondents feel this way.
According to Mateusz Michnik, a junior economic analyst at FOR, the sense of work-life balance seems to be at a similar level in all generations on the labor market.
– It should be noted that in all age groups it turns out that even with a periodic disruption of work-life balance, one can be satisfied with work. Work, contrary to the narratives popularized by some, can be a means to life satisfaction – emphasizes Michnik.
Baby boomers want automation. What about millennials?
At the same time, the ClickMeeting report shows that employees of all age groups agree that their productivity would be positively affected by the possibility of introducing tools that facilitate maintaining work-life balance. 70% of employees are in favor of remote work, 65% are in favor of online meetings. Interestingly, it is precisely the millennials, a generation of relatively young people (28-44) who are most skeptical about work automation.
“Three out of four employees from this age group are convinced that such solutions make work easier. Theoretically, this is a lot, but in all other generations this percentage is much higher and exceeds 80%. The most open to automation are employees from the baby boomer generation (60+)” – we read in the report.
According to Wiktor Siewierski from the Law for Development Forum, young employees often negatively perceive the traditional model of office work.
– For Generation Z, which entered the job market at a time when remote work became the common norm due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new technologies and a flexible approach to working time and place were obvious from the beginning of their professional careers – explains the expert.
The Techno-Pessimism Effect
Michnik from FOR, in turn, explains this astonishing phenomenon:the effect of techno-pessimism”. This means that millennials may be most concerned about changes in the job market and the need to adjust their careers.
– Zoomers are already aware of the big changes when they enter the job market and can adapt, while older people can now make up for it with experience and a desire for comfort. In such a situation, millennials may simply, to a large extent irrationally, fear the future and the need for change – explains Michnik.
What is the technopessimism effect? According to experts, it is a phenomenon of a skeptical approach to technological development and its impact on society. People who exhibit this effect fear that technological progress will do more harm than good, for example by increasing unemployment, deepening social inequalities, or negatively affecting the environment.
Moreover, techno-pessimists often emphasize the potential risks associated with new technologies, such as the loss of privacy (e.g. moving away from cash payments) or the uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence (complete reliance on computerization), and also fear that humanity will not be able to control these processes in a responsible manner.
Baby boomers stay on the job market longer
Wiktor Siewierski from the Law for Development Forum draws attention to another important aspect generational changes in the labor marketWell, as statistics show, baby boomers remain in the labor market longer than their predecessors, and their share of the labor force continues to grow.
– Baby boomers may see job automation as a chance to extend their professional activity in a way that is adapted to their changing needs and health capabilities. As they age, various limitations appear that may make it difficult to perform certain duties, he says.
– Automation is becoming an opportunity for older employees to overcome these difficulties, allowing them to focus on tasks that require experience and knowledge, thus extending their effectiveness on the labor market – adds the expert from the Law for Development Forum.
