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7 Reasons Employers Can't Stand Boomers (And Honestly, We Kind of Get It)

Boomers sometimes get a bad rap in the workforce, and we can see why.

By Sarah Sharkey , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated May 20, 2026

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Many Baby Boomers, usually defined as those born between 1946 and 1964, are starting to sail off into the sunset of retirement. But many are sticking around the workforce to eliminate some money stress and are living up to their less-than-stellar reputation.

As the stalwarts of this generation resist the pull of retirement, many of their younger cohorts can find lots to be annoyed about. Even though some of these habits understandably irk younger workers, many of them are rooted in financial responsibility.

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They didn't grow up with basic tech

When Baby Boomers were growing up, the idea of a smartphone was something out of a science fiction movie. In the workforce, many Boomers still prefer face-to-face meetings to video calls or Slack messages. Understandably, this old-fashioned notion can present a major inconvenience for younger workers who are more comfortable with modern tech.

While definitely old-fashioned, limited screen time might offer more peace for workers of all ages.

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They believe in 'paying your dues'

Back in the day, Baby Boomers had to climb the ladder. And now they expect others to do the same. Many of the younger generation are happy to work hard. But doing unnecessary tasks in pursuit of 'paying your dues' seems pointless to many up-and-comers.

They equate long hours with commitment

Many Boomers consider commitment to a job an integral part of advancing their career. Generally, this means putting in long hours at the office. The hours themselves are often seen as a metric of commitment rather than the actual work done.

In contrast, most of their younger peers prefer to work hard during work hours and leave at the scheduled time. This often creates friction between Boomers and their younger coworkers.

They can't fathom the idea of productively working from home

Working from home has become more mainstream in recent years. And with good reason, many employees can happily work from home to complete all of their tasks without the strain of a long commute.

For some Boomers, the concept of productively working from home doesn't click. Many think that working from home simply isn't the same and prefer everyone to work in a physical environment.

They have no tolerance for tardiness

Speaking of getting to the office, Baby Boomers have almost no tolerance for tardiness. Even one minute late is late. In contrast, Gen Z workers think that showing up under 10 minutes late to work is practically the same as arriving on time.

This sets up an uncomfortable power struggle between Boomer bosses and their younger employees.

They resist change, especially new tech

In the eyes of Baby Boomers, nothing is broken, so there's nothing to fix. With the advent of new tech, such as AI, many companies are pushing to integrate these innovations into their workflows. But Boomers tend to be reluctant to tackle this skill set because what worked in the past worked for so long.

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They're skeptical of work-life balance

Some Boomers put work at the center of their lives. But younger generations are focused on finding a work-life balance. Many Boomers simply can't wrap their heads around that idea, which leads to some issues between coworkers.

For example, a younger coworker who resists endless meetings in favor of actually getting their work done so that they can leave on time might be the target of Boomer ridicule.

Bottom line

Baby Boomers often get a bad rap. But many of their quirks can be explained by a dedication to personal responsibility and practical financial choices. Some younger workers might even learn a thing or two about boosting their financial fitness by taking a page out of the Boomers' book.

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