Skip to content
CityAM
Main navigation
  • News
    • News
      • Latest Business News
      • Economics
      • Politics
      • Tech
      • Banking
      • FTSE 100 Live
      • Retail
      • Insurance
      • Legal
      • Property
      • Transport
      • Markets
    • From our partners
      • AON
      • Bayes Business School
      • Canada BIDs
      • Central London Alliance CIC
      • Destination City
      • Halkin
      • Olympia
      • Inside Saudi
      • Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
      • Santander X
      • YEAR SIX Dividend
    • Featured

      A decade after Brexit, what does the City want next?

      European Business Alliance meeting discussing economic growth strategies, with diverse leaders engaging in a roundtable di...

      Submit a story

      Tell us your story.

      Submit
  • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Latest Sports News
      • Sport
      • Sport Business
    • From our partners
      • The Morning Briefing: SBS x CityAM
      • Aramco Team Series
      • LIV Golf
    • Featured

      Advertising at World Cup: Levi’s genius, hydration breaks and dodging rules

      Breaking news event with diverse crowd gathered outside urban office building on sunny day, capturing vibrant city life.

      Submit a story

      Tell us your story.

      Submit
  • Life&Style
    • Life&Style
      • Life&Style
      • Toast the City Awards
      • The Magazine
      • Travel
      • Culture
      • Motoring
      • Wellness
      • The RED BULLETiN
      • Do it with Shared Ownership
      • Media Speak Hub
    • Featured

      Procter & Gamble axes relationship with Kremlin propaganda channel

      007 PG news article image featuring a business meeting with executives discussing strategy at a modern conference table

      Submit a story

      Tell us your story.

      Submit
  • Investec
  • Events
  • Latest Paper
Wednesday 17 February 2016 10:03 am

Generation Y-ney? It’s official – millennials are the moaniest workers, while Generation X have the strongest work ethic

By: Emma Haslett

Add as a preferred source on Google

Been hearing a lot of complaints from the youngest members of your team recently? Not surprising, apparently: new research has suggested that millennials – those born between 1980 and 2004 – are likely to be your workplace's whiniest workers.

The research, by Workfront, found 41 per cent of workers think their millennial colleagues are the biggest complainers, followed by baby boomers (seen by 31 per cent as the moaniest) and generation X.

Millennials are also seen as the least co-operative, by 43 per cent of their colleagues – and the least likely to take responsibility – by 57 per cent of their colleagues.

But they do have some uses. Some 46 per cent of colleagues reckon millennials are the most creative, while 66 per cent think they're the most tech savvy. 

Meanwhile, generation X – those aged between 35 and 50 – are seen as the hardest workers, by 52 per cent of colleagues, and the most productive – by 60 per cent. They also have the strongest work ethic, and make the best problem solvers.

But alas, baby boomers – those aged over 50 – are seen as the least hard-working and the least productive, although they do have the second-strongest work ethic and are the second-most skilled.

To be fair, millennials do have something to complain about: yesterday they were told they should be saving £800 a month if they want to retire at the age of 65 with a £30,000-a-year income. 

They responded in typically gen Y fashion, posting complaints on Twitter. 

25 year olds need to save £800 a month to retire at 65. I don't even make £800 a month! Work til dead then 👍🏻

— emma (@emmabakerrr) February 16, 2016

Whine, whine, whine. Come on, guys. That's not the can-do attitude of your forebears…

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • Jobs and Money

Categories

  • Personal Development

Trending Articles

  • Who could be Andy Burnham’s Chancellor? 

  • As it happened: Stocks recover after markets rocked by tech-sell off; US claims ‘good foundations’ of Iran deal

  • As it happened: FTSE 100 finishes higher as US-Iran talks progress and Starmer resigns; Space X shares fall after bond sale

  • Coca-Cola brings in restructuring lineup over failed Costa sale

  • Reeves’ new tax charge on cash ISAs faces fierce industry backlash

More from CityAM

  • Controlling the sprawl of shadow AI

    Partner
    UK initiative to manage AI expansion, showcasing technology control measures in urban settings
  • Industry Execs Think Digital Transformation Is Working – but Staff Still Rely on Shadow IT to Get the Job Done

    Business Wire
  • Upgrading the grid risks ending up like HS2

    Opinion
    Electricity grid infrastructure with high-voltage power lines and pylons under a clear sky, representing energy distribution.
  • From mild to wild: What impact will AI have on banking jobs? 

    Banking
    Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters at an event, wearing a suit, speaking into a microphone against a corporate backdrop.
  • ‘Political point-scoring’ over bank rules risks investment exodus, top Nomura exec warns

    Banking
    Ordinary workers are likely to be hit hardest by salary sacrifice changes
  • London Tech Week day three: Workers are adopting AI quicker than their bosses

    Opinion
    Getty Images logo displayed on a digital screen, showcasing the brands iconic design and presence in the media industry.
  • Working Brits are struggling to keep up with AI

    Tech
    London has defied national trends as job postings in the capital rose.
  • Britain to offer visa refunds to woo tech scale-ups

    Tech
    Peter Kyle speaking at a podium during a press conference, addressing current issues and developments

CityAM Canada — business, markets and opinion for Canadian readers.

Sections

  • Business
  • Markets
  • Tech
  • AI
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Cities

Company

  • About
  • Contact

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 CityAM Canada. All rights reserved.
Terms · Privacy · Cookies