'Cry us a river': Boomer bosses baffled when corporate millennials refuse promotions, rejecting higher-level positions because rank doesn't matter when your paycheck stays the same

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Sep 25, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

This millennial employee and his buddies decided that internal promotions just weren't for them, fairly assessing their superiors' unfavorable work/life balance mantras and finding contentment in their lower positions. Because at the end of the day, unless a company is going to make your paycheck extra beefy, a 60-hour week isn't worth it.

Back in every Boomer's day, you could waltz into a corporate office with nothing but a firm handshake, a crisp shirt, and a bit of overconfidence, and you could get hired at a job that would employ you for the rest of your life. Did I mention they had a pension, health benefits, a company car, and no resume to speak of on hiring day? There was no reason for an employee to avoid climbing the corporate ladder, staying loyal to a company that stayed loyal to them. But these days things are far different–and Boomer bosses are starting to see the effects. 

Read on for the story of an office on the verge of collapse–not because millennials 'don't want to work anymore', but because millennials realize the intrinsic value of having a life outside of a job that couldn't care less if you never showed up again.

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  • "NoBodY WANTS to work❞
    via SHVETS production - Pexels via Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Boomer boss complaining about millennials rejecting promotions I work for a big company in central Europe. HQ has about 1000 employees and millennials make up 30% of the force here.
    via Equivalent-Cup1511
  • A bunch of them have been rejecting promotions or opportunities to apply for higher ranks in the company ever since 2020. My boss summoned me and asked why I haven't applied for any of these positions. No promotion offered. Just the question.
    via Equivalent-Cup1511
  • My peers and I have spoken about this at length and the consensus is that we just don't want to work like our superiors. They are behind their desks for 60 hours a week and there is a cap on overtime. There are dozens of other cons that just don't make it worth the extra income.
    via Equivalent-Cup1511
  • I told my boss this and he said it is unbelievable that a "young person" would turn down a promotion. We're not committed enough to ensure the company moves forward etc., etc.
    via Equivalent-Cup1511
  • There are a few colleagues our age who have been ruthlessly climbing the ladder and they frankly . They vibe with the same outlook as the boomers and I'm concerned that the workplace will never change because once they're in charge they won't change anything.
    via Equivalent-Cup1511
  • AlternativeAd7151 They conveniently forget how supply and demand works when the ball's on their court. If you offer a job and no one wants it, your offer simply . There's no demand for it. Make a better offer or another employer will outcompete you and poach your talent.
    via AlternativeAd7151
  • isthisonetaken13 Right? Sounds like an intro level econ course should be part of management training. Of course, realizing it's a supply and demand issue and not a nobody wants to work anymore issue, that requires the critical thinking and introspection so many managers lack.
    via isthisonetaken13
  • myssi24 Also realizing that if they offer no incentives to "ensure the company moves forward" employees don't care. They have no buy in, they don't profit share, and even "bonuses" aren't that great (at least in the US). If employers want employees to give a rat's I about the business they need to give them a few reasons other than a job.
    via myssi24
  • not-rasta-8913 This is the gist of "NoBody WaNTs to work" and the saddest thing is a lot of employees don't get it. I got into an argument with a nurse who was lamenting how overworked they are and how noone is applying to job openings. When I asked about what the pay was, the base was minimum
    via not-rasta-8913
  • wage plus bonuses for night and weekend/holiday shifts. If you worked all nights plus some overtime you'd get about 50% more than the minimum wage. she was really angry when I told her that I'd rather be at home on unemployment than do that work for that pay.
    via not-rasta-8913
  • tehjoz Well, since corporations stopped being committed to paying living, and thriving wages, so their employees and families can grow, and enjoy life instead of slaving away the entirety of their existence for the shareholders, then, yeah. Workers are Acting Their Wages and shareholders don't like it. Cry us a river, or make it worth our while.
    via tehjoz
  • DrivoPingasnik "Why u no care about company?!" "Because the company doesn't care about me."
    via DrivoPingasnik
  • Hortos The promotions internally typically don't come with enough of an increase in compensation to deal with the increased headache and responsibility. They'll likely also hire someone externally for the same position but with 20% more money.
    via Hortos
  • Spicymushroompunch I say this all the time but corps have created an environment where the best way to make more is to leave. It's their fault, they are still riding the high from the 2008 market and refuse to spend on retention. Your employer is a fuccboi. Plan your career accordingly.
    via Spicymushroompunch
  • BreckenridgeBandito Yeah I got a "promotion" about a year and a half ago that came with a lot more work and only like 5% more money. Was told that I'd get more of the raise when things with our merger wrapped up... that happened in April with no change in pay, and so I resigned in July. Good riddance, enjoy paying 2 people to pick up my responsibilities you cheapos.
    via BreckenridgeBandito
  • FolkvangrV Yes. Exactly. The company you work for already will generally rarely offer you the same $ they would pay to hire someone off the street for the new position. I've seen it happen more than a few times. Someone accepts a "promotion", but the company doesn't want to give them the same $ they would have to give up to hire someone off the street that isn't already employed there.
    via FolkvangrV
  • rustyxj Or do like my company did. Bring in a supervisor from a different department that has zero experience in my department. The department i work in requires a bunch of on the job knowledge, this guy doesn't have it.
    via rustyxj
  • SheiB123 They want 2 times the work for a 3% raise. Not going to happen. I am happy that people aren't taking that anymore
    via SheiB123
  • Boring-Onion And whatever pay increase comes with the "promotion" doesn't justify those increased hours and the stress that comes with more responsibilities. What's worse is that you know the company will pay maybe 10-15% more than what they offered you if they had to hire externally. Yeah, I'm good with that...
    via Boring-Onion

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salary millennial promotion boss worker elder millennial employee manager job work coworkers working ceo employees gen x pay baby boomers supervisor boomers workplace company coworker business
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