Despite popular belief, people born between 1963 and 1982 are fun, ambitious and driven, says an Auckland human resources consultant.
Reece Notton, of DBM New Zealand, said Generation Xers, sometimes dubbed "slackers," just had a different attitude to work from the fastidious baby-boomers whocame before them. Employers needed to adjust to reflect that change in attitude.
Mr Notton analysed the mixture of generations in the workplace in light of the ageing population, and found that baby-boomers - those born between 1945 and 1962 - worked hard, were loyal and their job meant everything to them.
"Generation X says, 'Stuff that. We want a life. We have to have balance.' Generation X is much better at getting balance," Mr Notton said.
The notion that Generation Xers were lazy, had little ambition and low company loyalty was wrong. The opposite was true, he said.
Generation Xers were focused, liked to be in control of their career destination and knew what they wanted and how to get it.
If they did not get what they wanted, they moved on, said Mr Notton.
They had watched their parents dedicate their lives to their jobs, only to be made redundant, suffer burnout or sacrifice quality time with their families.
The new generation worked to live rather than the other way around.
"Generation X may seem a little more selfish but they will commit. Their loyalty will be different - they are loyal as long as they are there but it isn't a job for life.
"They will also expect something in return. It isn't a one-way street."
Employers should change their style to reflect the needs of the generation taking over the workforce, said Mr Notton. They had to think in terms of total rewards rather than simply remuneration.
Generation Xers also demanded a sense of fun in the workplace. They would not work in places that were dour and serious all the time.
