When you hear the word “millennial,” you probably think of avocado toast and $5 craft lattes. Notably, millennials are often considered lazy by Baby Boomers. Why then, are millennials experiencing burnout? According to the Mayo Clinic, job burnout is a work-related stress in which individuals are physically and emotionally exhausted which leads to the loss of a sense of accomplishment and personal identity [2]. Lizz Schumer notes that about seven in ten American millennials are experiencing some level of burnout due to their jobs [3]

America is primarily a service-based economy, meaning most people in the workforce no longer work in manufacturing, a trade traditionally associated with tough, physical labor. Instead, individuals are more likely to work in office jobs or other service-related jobs, adding to the stigma of laziness by boomers who worked physically intensive jobs. Although the nature of work has changed immensely, millennials today face new, unprecedented challenges in an unchanging system that continues to have excessive demands of its workers.

Mobile devices and easily accessible online systems have blurred the lines between work and personal time [4]. This added pressure to be available at all times adds stress for millennials during their leisure time. Capitalist ideas have instilled the need for constant productivity to be successful– every moment spent resting is a moment of potential revenue loss. To add to these pressures, millennials now face a steep increase in the price of education, which is especially difficult to overcome when considering how standards for these new jobs often see a bachelor’s degree as a minimum qualification [4]. This expectation has left students swimming in student debt, with recent reports citing student debt in America at $1.56 trillion– about a 2% increase from 2019 [1].

Although this trend is common in American millennials, it is essential to note that this situation does not encapsulate all experiences. Regarding the aforementioned increase in tuition, higher-level education is becoming inaccessible to those that are economically struggling. With this in mind, these individuals can experience burnout differently. However, what remains true in the equation is the pressures of capitalism on the laborers. The constant need to work creates isolation, exhaustion, and demoralization of workers which results in burnout [4].

Millennials should not be blamed for the burnout they experience. Instead, capitalism and its reliance on commodifying labor are what causes workers to feel the need to be constantly working. Millennials are not lazy, jobs have just evolved and demanded a different skill set than physically demanding jobs. Instead of antagonizing millennials, it is time to take a better look at the systems in place and reevaluate who shoulders the burdens of its shortcomings.

Written by Melanie Law

References

1. Friedman, Z. (2020, February 05). Student Loan Debt Statistics In 2020: A Record $1.6 Trillion. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2020/02/03/student-loan-debt-statistics/

1. Know the signs of job burnout. (2018, November 21). Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642 

1. Schumer, L. (2020, February 11). The Key to Beating Millennial Burnout Is Managers Who Are Willing to Listen. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a30656100/millennial-burnout/

1. Stern, S. W. (2020, September 18). The Generation That Was Exhausted. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://newrepublic.com/article/159398/anne-helen-petersen-millennials-burnout