The Modern Work Ethic: A Generational Shift or Something More?
Reading through various online discussions about workplace attitudes lately has got me thinking about how dramatically our relationship with work has shifted. The conversation that really caught my eye centered around basic workplace courtesies - things like wearing headphones in customer-facing roles or the way people approach leave requests these days.
Sitting here in my home office, sipping my flat white and reflecting on my own career journey, I can’t help but see both sides of this evolving narrative. Twenty years ago, when I landed my first proper job at a tech company in the CBD, the workplace dynamics were radically different. We showed up early, stayed late, and genuinely believed that going above and beyond would lead to recognition and advancement.
But something fundamental has changed. The social contract between employers and employees has eroded significantly over the past couple of decades. I’ve watched countless colleagues get laid off during various “restructures,” only to see their positions advertised offshore a few months later. The big banks here have been particularly notorious for this - just walk down Collins Street and chat with any long-term financial sector worker about how things have changed.
The younger generation isn’t being difficult or disrespectful - they’re responding rationally to a system that has consistently shown it doesn’t value loyalty. When you’re paying $600 a week for a modest rental in the outer suburbs and watching your real wages decline year after year, it’s hard to maintain enthusiasm for a job that views you as disposable.
That said, there’s a balance to strike. Basic workplace courtesy isn’t about corporate loyalty - it’s about personal pride and professional relationships. You can maintain boundaries and stand up for your rights without being unnecessarily antagonistic. I learned this lesson the hard way during my corporate days, before starting my own small business.
The real issue isn’t about headphones or leave requests - it’s about the broader disconnect between workers and their employers. We’re seeing the culmination of decades of eroding worker protections, stagnant wages, and the casualisation of the workforce. When I talk to my teenage daughter about her future career prospects, I find myself giving very different advice than what my parents gave me.
Looking ahead, I suspect we’ll need to completely reimagine the employer-employee relationship. The old model of lifetime employment and steady advancement is dead, but we haven’t quite figured out what should replace it. Maybe it’s time for a more transparent, transactional approach - one where both sides acknowledge the temporary nature of most employment relationships while still maintaining professional standards.
The corporate world needs to understand that you can’t demand old-school loyalty while operating under new-school rules. Meanwhile, workers need to find ways to protect their interests without burning bridges. The world of work is changing, and we’re all still figuring out how to navigate it.
Tonight, I’ll probably spend some time updating my own workplace policies. Running a small business has taught me that treating people with respect and understanding their needs isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s good business sense. Maybe the big corporations will eventually figure that out too.