Ken Pierson
Working hard, or hardly working? Labor day is on Monday and with it, the rising generational feuds of who produced the hardest workers. Every year we celebrate and pay tribute to American workers.
From baby boomers and Gen X to millenials and Gen Z, everyone feels like their generation has the best work ethic while others lack in comparison — and most of them have great points.
We sent our reporter Dakota Bruton to the streets of Nashville to ask people their opinions on today’s work ethic in the United States versus in the past.
Brad Milhollin
Parker City
“In my lifetime, it’s amazing what the work ethic has turned into. Young people’s motivation has really changed, especially the young men. On our farm, I can outwork two of them and I’m 70 years old.”
Pam Milhollin
Parker City
“We have a farm and it’s been very hard to get anyone who wants to learn, work and get their hands on it. They’ll watch, but they spend too much face time on their phones. We have lost discipline and work ethic.”
Patty Toney
Friendship
“I have mixed feelings. My whole career was spent in nursing. I’ve watched people work incredibly hard and long hours for decent pay, nothing special but decent. I look at some of the young folks we know, nieces, nephews and other children. I think it depends. There are tons of young folks working multiple jobs, engaging in projects and going to school while working at the same time. The work ethic is alive and well, lacking in some places and spaces? Yes. People spending more time on their devices? Yes, but it’s still there.”
Doug Toney
Friendship
“I think some of the dismay with young workers is the fact that a generation ago you got a job, stayed in it for a long time and what I observed was companies treating employees as if they were a physical asset. When people are treated well, they generally respond well. I don’t think it’s all on the younger generation as much as in many cases it’s how they are being treated.”
Kevin Coffman
Brown County
“I don’t think we’re offered as many opportunities now. Even though we have them at our fingertips, but I don’t think those opportunities are there. Overall it was harder to work back then, there was more to do and you couldn’t just get something from Kroger.”
Veta Goucher
Terre Haute
“We retired two years ago. I was a nurse for 38 years. One reason I retired is because I was tired of the lazy people hiding in the corner while one other nurse and I handled everything. We have a granddaughter who wants to be a nurse but says she doesn’t want to take care of old people. I told her that you have to start off at the bottom and work your way up, that’s with anything, but I just don’t thing young people want to do that.”
Don Goucher
Terre Haute
“I worked at an electric motor shop. I worked with my brother for 32 years, I got tired of doing everything while he did nothing. It got old, so that is one of the reasons I retired. Now we have a son that works there, but it just gets old watching people not want to work.”
Dean Keefauver
Brown County
“I grew up watching my dad’s generation up at dawn to bed at dusk and working hard all the time. I grew up on a farm and that’s what you did. I don’t know if I see that anymore but there are exceptions. I get to be around amazing kids every day. The work ethic is still there, it just depends on where you look.”
Ken Pierson
Anderson
“I’ve been retired since 2008 and Labor Day is one of the minor holidays even though they honor all workers. Most people need a break to feel recognized for the work they do. (The work ethic) is not as good, younger people now find excuses not to work versus just going to work.”
