Young Americans are choosing to 'work to live' rather than 'live to work' like previous generations — believe they're not being rewarded for their hard work. Are they being lazy or smart?

“They have seen the legacy of all these broken promises.”

Here’s why Gen Z is embracing a better work/life balance — and are being smart about it too.

Why Gen Z is fed up with hustle culture

Unlike previous generations who chose the grind — working extra hours and taking on more tasks in order to prove their standing to employers — Gen Z is taking a different approach.

Wages haven’t kept up with inflation, which means purchasing power is reduced. The surging cost-of-living, coupled with rising home prices and mortgage rates over the years, also means many young Americans can’t reach the same milestones their parents and grandparents did, like buying their first home.

In addition, Gen Z watched millennials, burdened by student loans and the financial consequences of two recessions, struggle through it all — so, they’re not going to make the same mistakes.

The younger generation is prioritizing their work/life balance over burnout and some of them are even “quiet quitting” since they’ve realized overworking themselves won’t get them far in today’s economy.

"Many of us built, whether it's bought homes or whatever, based on this promise of stability," Jesuthasan said. "There was this expectation that the tail was bigger. And we took on liabilities and obligations early on because of that tail.”

“I think this generation has seen that tail dissipate."

What young Americans are doing instead

To make up for the wealth gap, Gen Z is coming up with clever and creative ways to boost their incomes while asserting firm boundaries around their 9-to-5 schedules.