People Raised In The 80s & 90s Usually Apologize For 9 Things Younger Generations Have No Problem Doing
Vitaly Gariev | Pexels We're all raised differently, but each generation tends to have shared values and collective experiences.
That's part of why people raised in the 80s and 90s, Gen Xers and millennials, apologize for things that younger generations, like Gen Zers, have no problem doing. They may share certain beliefs and childhood experiences, but there are definitely forms of etiquette and life lessons that they learned quite separately.
Younger generations have no problem doing these things that people raised in the 80s and 90s apologize for
1. Saying 'no' to a social gathering
Ketut Subiyanto | Pexels
Many Gen Xers and millennials were taught early to respect their elders and appreciate social rules like bringing a gift for a host. There were also unspoken social rules that often pressured people to show up for things and events.
Burnout, whether that meant working overtime at the office or keeping a full social calendar, was something to wear as a badge of honor. But for Gen Zers today, who are far more careful about protecting their time and setting boundaries, saying "no" is never something they'd apologize for.
2. Leaving without saying goodbye
Many younger generations live with the motto that their peace comes first. Even when it isolates them and sometimes comes off as disrespectful to older generations, they put their well-being first. Casually, that sometimes means leaving a party without saying goodbye, and texting a host after it's over to say thank you.
Even if it's something a Gen Xer or millennial would immediately apologize for, Gen Zers don't. If they're not feeling comfortable or need their rest, they'd prefer to slip out instead of forcing the host to acknowledge them.
3. Sending someone to voicemail
Many Gen Zers have phone anxiety and are actively avoiding any and all calls that come in. They're sending people to voicemail by default, in favor of other forms of communication, like texts and email.
To older generations, who believe that talking on the phone is a form of respect over texting, they apologize for missing a call. With their values around company loyalty, if it's a work call, they're going to say "I'm sorry" after calling back, even on the weekends, instead of respecting stronger work-life boundaries.
4. Taking time off from work
Many younger generations are taking more time off than others, even using sick time for mental health days and scheduling last-minute long weekends. To them, having and using time off is a necessity, and is something they're entitled to as workers.
For older generations, this time off is something you work for and earn. So, there's a stigma around needing to take time away from work, especially when Gen Xers are devoted to loyalty with their companies.
They apologize for putting their personal time and obligations first, while Gen Zers simply expect that they won't be asked questions when they need a day off.
5. Wearing comfortable, casual clothes
Alena Darmel | Pexels
Whether it's in the workplace with dress codes or going out to run errands, Gen Zers are clearly more interested in comfort than adhering to societal expectations of how they should dress. The rise of athleisure is just one example, with many young people actively choosing to wear hoodies and leggings, whether they're in public or at work.
For older generations, dressing nicely is a social norm. You show respect to someone by dressing up around them or at work. You take pride in your clothing and appearance.
Their idea of what dressing up means obviously looks wildly different from their Gen Z counterparts, so when they wear sweats, it usually comes with an excuse or an apology.
6. Asking to split a bill at a restaurant
Gen Z's Venmo culture revolves around financial collaboration. Considering many are struggling to afford basic necessities and save for big investments, the micro-experiences they value wouldn't work unless it was the norm to split up the bill.
But for older generations, asking to split the bill and going through a receipt when you're out to eat feels disrespectful. They're much more likely, partially because of their financial stability and also because of social norms, to just pick up the whole thing.
If they did have to split it in some way or ask for money, there'd likely be an apology.
7. Canceling plans last-minute
It's become quite the issue for Gen Zers who yearn for community when their interests lie with comfort and convenience. When they're canceling plans at the last minute to protect their own peace, they're going to soil certain relationships due to a lack of reliability.
They might not apologize, but their parents' generation was taught to not only show up, but to inconvenience themselves to help others. There wasn't the kind of selfishness and entitlement that we see today, but resilience and intentionality.
8. Leaving a job on short notice
Many Gen Zers are known for job-hopping, with an average stint in a role lasting for just over a year. It's not because they're giving up or disloyal, they're just more interested in protecting their personal needs and time than showing loyalty to a company at their own expense.
Older generations are wired to apologize for putting themselves first, especially in the workplace. Whether it's taking time off or even leaving right at 5 p.m., they put the workplace and needs of an employer first.
9. Talking openly about their mental health
Polina Zimmerman | Pexels
There's a clear gap between Gen Zers and their older counterparts when it comes to mental health. Young people are actively destigmatizing it by having conversations and seeking support. Their Gen X and millennial counterparts are still suffering from stigma that keeps them avoidant.
At work, when there's a lot of generational tension around mental health, it's clear the difference in dynamic. Older generations apologize for showing emotion or bringing personal issues to work, and their Gen Z counterparts expect that they'll have a safe place to talk about it.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
