VIDEO: When Workouts Are More Important Than Work

Generational attitudes towards work responsibilities are wild

The alphabet soup of generations

Boy how things have changed.

Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Generation Alpha, aka Gen A.

Millennials.

Each one of these generational groups have certain attributes that have been attached to them by popular culture.

We’ve all heard the complaints about the younger cohort. You know - how they’re lazy, entitled and unglued to reality. How they are spoiled and presumptive about what is owed to them. Heck: say “avocado toast” and what particular group comes to mind?

The question that we should really be asking ourselves is are these descriptors fair?

I don’t think so.

So, for the record, let me say that I think that these attributed character traits for huge swaths of people are grossly unfair. It’s always problematic when the actions and behaviours of some are assumed to be the norm for all in any given group. We’ve seen the negative results of stereotyping over and over again.

There’s no doubt in my mind that there are many younger folks who work hard, are far from lazy and have their feet firmly grounded on terra firma. These are the people who will be creating the world in which our grandchildren and future generations will inhabit.

Many of those who fall into the post Gen X timelines are painted with a similar negative brush. How many times in the past number of years have we seen or read news stories about lazy and entitled younger folks?

A lot.

The news is rife with stories of these young whippersnappers taking everything for granted and still wanting more.

The Whippersnappers are in the workplace

Well, this supposed sense of entitlement has spilled over into the workforce. Yes - the whippersnappers are working and they’re pulling no punches about what they want, need and expect in the workplace.

Case in point:

A recent news story revealed that a Generation Z new employee informed their boss that they would absolutely not be attending a quarterly 8am meeting. The reason? They had a regularly-scheduled workout class at the same time. You can read about the details here, or all over TikTok if you’re so inclined:

Gen Z Hire Declines Work Meeting to Attend Fitness Class

Here are the basic facts:

• New Generation Z employee declines a regular quarterly 8am work meeting because of a conflicting workout class that occurs at the same time

• The new employee had been told about the expected attendance at these meetings before being offered and subsequently accepting the job

• The position is a salaried role, paying $100k per year

I think I’m safe to say that us Gen-Xers heads are collectively spinning.

Seriously. Seriously??

I have so many thoughts about this, I don’t know where to start. Let me break it down as briefly as I can. My Gen X brain’s basic thoughts are these:

1. The employee took the job knowing full well that they were expected to attend these meetings four times a year at 8am.

2. The employee agreed to the terms of employment which included these meetings as part of the position and that attendance was to be expected.

3. The employee is making $100k or more in this role and last time I checked, this salary range would entail attending meetings when required.

4. Back in the day, at least in the Gen X day, when your boss asked you to do something (within reason, of course), you did it. No questions asked. Fulfilling requests from your boss, it was part of the job, period.

I really had no words about this when I first heard it. Okay, my silence didn’t last long and I had to say something about it as in my humble opinion, it is completely ridiculous. On my weekly CTV News Channel segment on the program The Debate, I provided my opinion on this latest generational faux pas. You can watch the full video segment below.

The Workout Culture and priorities

Workout culture certainly isn’t new. Being fit and in shape has been a thing for decades. Perhaps in more recent times, say the past fifty years or so, there’s been an expectation that we’d get our collective acts together and get our bodies in shape.

In the 70s we saw the rise of fitness icons such as Arnold Schwartzenneggar who became a superstar following his rise to becoming Mr. Universe in Pumping Iron.

The 80s had its own workout craze led by aspirational leaders such as Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons.

Boomers and Gen-Xers will remember that Charles Atlas promised skinny men the key to getting the prettiest girl on the beach through exercise.

The desire for and pursuit of physical fitness has continued since that time with the more modern iterations extending beyond “Sweating to the Oldies” and aerobics. Recent fitness trends now tie in with overall wellness and mental health, with yoga, hiking and Pilates to name a few.

Richard Simmons was a workout icon in the 80s

The desire for and pursuit of physical fitness has continued since the 80s with the more modern iterations extending beyond “Sweating to the Oldies” and aerobics. More modern physical fitness trends now tie in with overall wellness and mental health, with yoga, hiking and to name a few.

The Work Culture and priorities

“Greed is good” said Gordon Gekko, the chief protagonist and overall creep in the 80s hit movie Wall Street. The era was one of materialism, with the focus on making money being key to any self-respecting person. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, anyone?

Lifestyles You Will Never Achieve

And that desire of the almighty buck hasn’t decreased in the years since. If anything, it has become the goal not the exception, regardless of age. The younger generations want to have enough money to pursue their dreams, to be set for life so that they can do what they want, when they want, at their literal leisure. The older folks want to be able to enjoy their lives and retirement without financial hardship. The shaky economy notwithstanding, these goals are still in the target zone for all age groups.

So I guess it’s not surprising, then that Gen Zs want their piece of the pie. But just not on a particular schedule, like every quarter, for example.

Don’t tell me what to do! You’re not the boss of me (even if they are)!

If it isn’t already evident, I have very clear ideas about this type of Gen Z attitude. Again - I realize that not ALL Generation Zs subscribe to this philosophy and more than a few would be happy to attend 8am meetings once a quarter in order to rise up the corporate ladder. It’s just that there are also more than a few that would rather work up a sweat and get some exercise in during that same time period, no matter what. And that’s what I don’t understand. But maybe, just maybe it’s my old, muddled, Gen X brain that’s telling me some archaic “adulting” tenet that reminds me that if the boss asks you to do something within reason you do it. And yea, I know that “within reason” is a relative term, but still.

WATCH: Gen Z says “no” to early morning quarterly meetings