Report refutes myth of lazy Gen Y

by Kelly Stone

A UniSA report on work-life balance that has gained national media attention over the past few weeks, has refuted the myth that Generation Y workers are less dedicated than other workers.

The 2010 Australian Work and Life Index, from the University’s Centre for Work + Life, found no signs that younger workers are any lazier than their Baby Boomer colleagues. In fact, Generation X is the generation most likely to be affected by poor work-life outcomes, with Generation X men working the longest hours of any group – around 45 hours per week on average.

Centre for Work + Life Director Professor Barbara Pocock says Generations X and Y do not appear to be any less interested in work than Baby Boomers, despite populist generalisations along these lines.

“Our data does not provide evidence of new generations of workers in their 20s or 30s who are any less serious about work,” Prof Pocock says.

“More workers from these younger generations are affected by some kinds of work-life interference because of their longer hours and life-stage of family formation and child rearing.

“Gen X, Y and Baby Boomers all share a common preference for a 35 hour week.”

The 2010 AWALI report, authored by Prof Pocock, Dr Natalie Skinner and Sandra Pisaniello, shows balancing work and life is not getting any easier for working Australians.

It found six in ten Australian workers stockpile their annual leave and don’t take holidays.

While some of these workers are saving their leave to take a holiday at another time, many others say their job is just too demanding to think about taking time off.

Prof Pocock says work pressures stand in the way of holidays for almost one-third of people who stockpile their leave.

“Thirty per cent of employees surveyed said they were too busy at work to take all of their leave,” Prof Pocock says. “This especially affects those working long hours, professionals and those employed on limited term contracts."

The report can be downloaded at http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawkeinstitute/cwl/projects/awali.asp