Which Generation Has the Strongest Work Method – And Which Is the Laziest?
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Zety.com.
What happens when baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z all share the same workplace?
Zety’s latest Generational Leadership report delves into this question and examines how age differences are changing today’s workplace—from meeting variables to career aspirations, and even the growing conversation about Gen Z’s perceived work ethic problem.
A survey of 1,026 US workers finds that 46% report Gen Z’s communication style as the most difficult to navigate in meetings, and only 9% believe Gen Z has the strongest work ethic. However, younger generations (Gen Z and millennials) remain ambitious, with many aspiring to leadership roles.
The data points to broad trends in how different generations approach work, collaboration, and professional growth.
Key findings:
- 46% of workers believe baby boomers have the strongest work ethic, followed by Gen X at 26%, millennials at 19%, and Gen Z’s at 9%.
- Gen Z’s communication style is reported as the most difficult to navigate in meetings (46%).
- 49% of employees are not interested in being managers, the main reason being the desire to avoid the pressure and responsibilities of managing people (59%).
- Despite negative perceptions about low aspirations, 36% of millennials and 35% of Gen Z aspire to be managers.
- 66% of workers say that younger generations are more likely to “job hop,” which reinforces prevailing views about retention and commitment.
Generations Listed in Order of Performance
Employees have different perceptions of different generations, and these perceptions often influence workplace behavior. When asked which generation has the strongest moral values, respondents said:
- Children’s ratio: 46%
- Gen X: 26%
- Millennials: 19%
- Gen Z: 9%
66% of workers also believe younger generations are more likely to “job hop” than older generations, highlighting persistent stereotypes about age and commitment to work.
Multigenerational Collaboration Brings Strengths and Challenges
Although employees see the benefits of working together across generations, differences in communication can cause friction:
- 71% say international collaboration is a source of strength in their work.
- 29% say it is the root of the conflict.
- Communication differences are a major obstacle, with Gen Z’s style reported as the most difficult to navigate (46%).
Leadership aspirations differ across generations
Although leadership roles are often seen as a way up the corporate ladder, not everyone is willing to follow that path:
- Overall, 49% of employees are not interested in being a manager and prefer to remain contributors.
- According to their experience, 48% say that younger generations are not interested in being managers.
- The top three things that discourage employees from following managers include:
- Preference is to avoid stress and manage people (59%)
- Concerns about work-life balance as a manager (15%)
- Lack of confidence or management skills (10%)
Beyond workplace perspectives, ambition remains strong among young workers, as 36% of millennials and 35% of Gen Z say they aspire to be a manager or leader of people — pointing to a new era of Gen Z leadership that could redefine what managers look like in the modern workplace.
How to do it
The findings presented are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Zety using Pollfish on November 28, 2025. The survey collected responses from 1,026 US employees and explored their views on work ethic across generations, communication challenges in multi-ethnic teams, and aspirations for leadership and career development.
Respondents answered different types of questions, including yes/no; scale-based questions, where they indicated their level of agreement with the statements; and multiple choice, where they can choose from a list of options provided.
The sample included 49% women, 50% men, and 1% non-binary respondents, with 22% Gen Z, 26% millennials, 26% Gen X, and 26% baby boomers.
