Millennials explaining work culture to Gen Z 

"You were raised at a time where everyone said, 'You can do whatever you want' and pretended that you could live the American Dream on a bachelor's degree in a single income household" As a millennial, this is 100% true. Our parents assumed the same rules would apply for us as did for them, and blame us for that not being the case.

I can't believe the olds actually needed PSAs to remind parents their kids 'are a person just like you'.

I have a friend who is 10 years younger than me. I half-jokingly told them, "We saw the world before it caught fire. You were born to the burning world." Then we had a 2 hour conversation about how neither one of us would ever be able to retire or buy a house.

Im a grad student and my boss tried to bully me and my coworkers into staying till 7 or 8pm every day. Lot of crap about "when he was in grad school". One grad student who was always kissing his butt agreed. But the other two of us resisted, discussed it with him, and started looking around for new jobs when he didn't back down. When my coworker found one, my boss realized he was about to lose me too and stopped expecting unreasonable work hours. Now he is respectful of my time. Stand up for yourself. If enough of us do it, they will get the picture. If they don't, find a new job. We do this until the system starts treating us with respect. This is a transaction. My time in exchange for money. No breach of contract will be tolerated.

I tried explaining to a gen Z friend once that part of the reason Millennials stay in abusive work environments was because for years if we quit we'd spend months looking for a new job and many of us lost our homes because of it.

“One of us cares, and it’s that girl from Sweden, and that’s because she’s not allowed to have a smartphone.” That line alone was worth watching this for.

As a millennial I could swear I remember there being a couple decades of propaganda demonizing us for saying the exact things this zoomer says.

The only difference between millennials and Gen Z is that the former watched the veil fall and are traumatized by it. We agree on everything of substance. It's only now that things have gotten so bad for so many people that what millennials have been saying all along can't be ignored.

"Children should be seen but not heard" was a common phrase used when my parents were children.

"You have my consent." "Come here you OLD man." "You may touch meey!" Anna you're too much! 🤣😂🤣

Never have I ever seen such an accurate and simultaneously comedic representation of two generations conversing. As someone on the older half of Gen Z, these are the two voices inside my mind lol. PS I love how Gen Z recognized that Gen X/ Boomers had a hard childhood and probably just need a hug.

I knew the 10 pm thing which was wild already but the “have you hugged your kid today” thing is both shocking and painfully obvious at the same time

This was HILARIOUS because it's(tragically) true! I was born in 1970 and LITERALLY saw those commercials growing up and wondered why no one ever hugged us. We really were lead to believe that we were a nuisance, a burden, and just minutes away from getting a butt-whooping if we stepped out of line. My parents also had no idea where we were at 10 o'clock, either. Nor did they care, actually.

Anna could start a Netflix series called “theres 10 people in my head and none of them agree on anything”

I’m amazed at how much GenZ mirrors GenX in their more-than-skeptical view of well… everything. I’m GenX- the original feral generation, and my son is GenZ- living the real dystopia. This was SO funny and a lot of truth in it. 😂Thanks for your art!

Gen X drinking in the utility closet and shouting at spiders.

Remember "Don't be a fool, stay in school!"? $140k in student loan debt later...

As a millenial if you ever here me say "family" when talking about work please check to see if an alien got into my brain because NO just NO.

I'm GenX and my parents never hugged me until I had a kid and was in my 30s. This is so true. Our parents were never around. We were referred to as "latch key kids".

Born in 1970 and I remember the "It's 10pm. Do you know where your kids are?" PSAs. We had three rules at home: say thank you, be home before dark, and no hitting or kicking the head or back. No cell phones back then. That "where are your kids?" PSA doesn't mean they were all neglectful parents. The dangers to children from predators was a relatively new thing as cities grew. My mom struggled to raise three kids on a secretary's salary + part time job + Avon, because my deadbeat abusive dad, who she left in 1975, was too busy shoving blow up his nose to pay child support except when he wanted to play perfect family for a new girlfriend. Neither parent had a college degree but he made 3-4x what my mom made. He also didn't think of his kids as people. Did you know women couldn't buy a house on their own or have their own bank account or credit card until 1974? Banks could and did refuse credit before then. Many women stayed married because they were trapped. Mom and us 3 kids were often homeless so we'd move in and out of family and friends' homes. Changed schools constantly. Every adult smoked like a chimney. Healthy eating was drinking chocolate milk with our dinner of frozen fish sticks and canned corn. Hunger was a constant. Hand me down clothes that didn't fit. I know there are people who are growing up in similarly dire straits but I see a lot of people who have much more "stuff" and monthly payments and a drive-thru coffee addiction with multiple roommates and a couple part time jobs. We cherry pick what aspects of culture to show, but as Anna said, there are reasons why each gen is stereotyped and it's not just because we're idiots who want to fire up the world dumpster. I went to college and then grad school and said yes to any amount of loans because i couldnt stand to live like my family. Came out the end with $80k in debt and a corporate job, which I left after 10 years to teach at university as a lecturer because it felt like I could make more of a difference that way (plus 15 weeks off a year). I was raised to believe if you work hard, you'll be taken care of when you retire. That's bullshit on so many levels and i saw my grandmother and then my mother struggle to survive and having to keep working literally until they died. Enjoy life while you're healthy enough to do so. Save money for your own future needs. Say yes to some crappy projects at work and make sure everyone knows what you're accomplishing. Switch companies because that's always going to be the best raise. Educate yourself and don't expect the world owes you anything but oxygen.

As a Millennial I do want to make a difference... But getting exploited by a soulless Capitalist machine is the wrong kind of difference. 😢

As a younger Gen X, i remember these commercials. The trauma is very real.

I love how you've managed to simultaneously roast and praise 3 whole generations X'D

The classic PSA quote is “I learned it by watching you!!!”

The hug bit at the end just comes off like a horror movie, but like a super wholesome one. Its confusing and I love it.

"coronavirus: that's when I was born" killed me😂😂😂

I am really struggling with this now. My dad is a boomer my mom is a gen x and I’m a gen z. My dad fully told me yesterday the corporate world provides no guarantees and very little job security now and if he was my age in my situation he doesn’t know what he would do. I have a bachelors, a masters, and multiple certifications with a wide network and I still can’t find a job paying more than a surviving wage. What the hell are we suppose to do? I don’t want to live at home forever or have massive credit card debt or live paycheck to paycheck with no savings. We were told get education and it will set us up for success. I have ten years of work experience six of which is professional higher level. But the only job offers I get pay $40k before taxes and require masters degrees in one of the most expensive cities in the country. How are young people suppose to make it nowadays?

As a Gen-X'er I'm rooting for you guys to succeed in doing what we as a generation tried but were too small to accomplish. Good luck!!!

Never work at a place that says "We're like family." Also, I have faith that Gen Z isn't as bad as people say. Just so long as I'm not watching TikTok.

I’m a “zillenial” or what ever - and I think I fall into the cohort where we really valued our education and still had hope for our careers - just to have 2016 hit in college and the world basically seemed to be on fire from that point on. I have a few friends who are really privileged and their parents gave them $100k down-payments for their homes, but I don’t know how that’s possible for the vast majority of us. I try to find simple joys in my days and not catastrophize, because I don’t think that helps either - but woof.

GenXer here. This is the funniest thing I've seen in ages... thank you. I appreciate the implied hugs. The 'kidnap the boss' bit gave me happy flashbacks to watching Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin in '9 to 5'. I rewatched it recently; it's still awesome.

Gen X here. My parents never said I love you - until there was a super traumatic moment. So I can literally remember when they did. And it was always associated with something major. Then after college they must have taken therapy or read a pamphlet or something because they all of the sudden wanted to say it all of the time and it was soooo weird.

This hit hard. Especially as an animator facing years of layoffs after a decade of hard work.....OUF.

It's true, we all deserve therapy and hugs.

ROFL!!! The story repeats itself. It reminds me of how we used to. rant about Millenials lack of productivity and interest in doing their jobs. Now it is their turn to rant.

"riot at dawn" is the energy that will actually save us

A new millennial employee saying "we riot at dawn" was at least hopeful and productive seeing how it showed that said employee was actually awake at dawn.

Kombucha on tap sounds sick.

As an older Millennial, if fluctuate between optimism and nihilism. I'm slowly heading further into nihilism as I become aware of how doomed we are. It would be nice if hugs could fix the world, I would love it if that was an option. Sadly, the olds that are responsible are not keen on strangers hugging them.

I feel like Anna has tons of subscribers but also simply doesn't get the accolades she deserves. She's an incredible comedy writer and performer and clearly works very hard on research.

The Gretta joke killed me

Having been born in the '97 in southamerica I feel like both Annas live in my head fighting endlessly. Also I'm unemployed after 6 hardworking years of professional career

Thank you for including the actual PSAs. It hits different when people get to see them for themselves, rather than half-hearing grandpa’s story time. Again. I’m developing a theory about why re-telling the same stories is a hallmark of age and I think it has a link to raising young kids. Hear me out...little kids watch the same movies over and over because they focus on one character or aspect until they fully grasp it, then work their way through each character/aspect with each subsequent viewing, ignoring everything else outside their focus character. Old folks inherently know the first time they tell a story, they’re only partially heard, and they want you to have the whole story. So they keep telling the story until you object, but by that time, they’re programmed to push play every time they have your attention. Or, maybe, they forgot they told you. Working a theory is hard. Ha! When I was a kid...

An old dude walking his dog called out to me with my kids saying ”you spend the first 2 years teaching them to talk and walk, and the rest of their lives telling them to shut up and sit down” …..uh I’m scared for you sir.

I'm a millennial but my attitude with work is more on the Gen Z side and always has been (which was hard back in the day). I definitely did not get jobs because I made it clear I'm not putting in more hours than required for the sake of "teamwork" or "we're family" and all. Like no, you are a business, your execs are making money and have bonuses, I wasn't, I was a salaried employee fixed with no bonuses. So if my work is too much and it's not due to my performance/productivity, it's poor planning of resources from the company's part. It's not my problem so don't make it my problem. I value my time off work, which is a more clear schedule and I will enjoy that benefit because it keeps me sane to keep my productivity at work.

"Wacky waving inflatable tube man" is a millennial reference though

As a cusp Gen X - Millennial cusp, so much yes to this. So many people even 4 years younger then me are so... out there to me. Then there's the generation before.. just wow.

I have the kindest, most compassionate, and most empathetic boss physically possible, someone I genuinely consider a friend... and even then all she can do is try to minimize the hell of our work environment as best she can while still keeping the company functional. There is no such thing as a non-toxic work environment, even under ideal conditions. The problem is the entire system.

This is a gem. I am Gen X by the way. I could really find typical interactions that I had with the younger generations. It was witty and hilarious I don’t know who scripted this but they definitely have talent. Kudos to Ana for giving the script life.

"We riot at dawn" 💀

She forgot the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), Princess Diana’s death (1997), Columbine Massacre (1999), Y2K scare (2000), destruction of the Twin Towers (2001), the War on Terror (begun 2001), hurricane Katrina (2005), the rise of Airport Security-just to name a few. But we also had the launch of the Hubble Telescope! And a bunch of other cool things.

A few weeks to go and I officially hit my 30s. I may be a millennial and was raised with strict millennial values, but as times passed, I had to adapt and gradually felt myself becoming more and more Gen Z-minded. I work part-time for a big box store overnight and being awake all night in a house with 3 other people asleep, each from a different generation, is chipping away at the sanity I thought I was restoring over the past 2 years. I hear automated PA announcements every 5 minutes on the job, so THAT'S chipping away too. The job payment is not enough, even if I were working full time. (side note: I am not interested in full time work on those lines as I know it will kill what is left of my emotional and mental health) I'm glad I can always count on people like you to look at problems like these with both eyes open. I feel like there's no one in my IRL life I can trust to do the same.

No but that PSA seriously made me tear up

i KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW GEN Z NEEDS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MILLENIALS! Every time i hang out with them they teach us so much about life and how to put up with the problems 😭 They are our older brothers and sisters

"as I said, you grew up in a hopeful time" ouch that hurt

"Want me to give you a reason to cry...?"

Remember, just because work enviroments and work culture are very poorly designed at the moment leading to alot of sadness, suffering, and inefficencies, does not mean "work" itself is enevitably linked to sadness and suffering. Bad work enviroment and work culture should not be conflated with "work itself is bad". Bad foundations can be fixed. We shouldnt determine something("work") is doomed just be because the foundation its currently built on is horrible.

this is just super accurate....

1:18 Gen X, here. This was said by many of us, starting back in the 1990s. During our childhoods, and especially in adulthood, there was no discussion of living in a single income family, or with only a Bachelors Degree. We just assumed that a family would need both parents working. Her description of her childhood could apply to a great many of us Gen X, as well. Don't ever get the idea that we had it easy growing up. The earlier generations climbed the ladder, experienced success, then pulled the economic ladder up after themselves. Many longer ones simply don't see this, as they lump us in with the Boomers -- which, we are certainly not. We also want to change things, we haven't had it easy, it's just that we don't have the demographic numbers.

Guess I'm lucky. Older Gen-X here, had a home with lots of hugs on a daily basis. When I see my parents, and I'm lucky to still have them, I greet them with a hug as well as hugs when its time to go home. My dad was always proud he taught his kids about the joys of hugging.

I love the depiction of millenial having more life experience, being symphthetic and a good communicator, but gen z has no intention to beat around the bush, and has more knowledge of the big picture.

I remember when those PSA’s were new

This feels like the exact kind of conversation I used to see on RU-vid between Millennials and Boomers (Xers are always ignored). Funny to now see the shoe on the other foot. Either die a hero or love long enough to become the villain, I guess.

Just remember when you wake up gen X it's like poking a hornets nest. I want no part of that chaos 😂

The 70s and 80s were a crazy time kids. 😬

Come here you old man is the sweetest scary line ever written. Ten out of Ten Anna.

Ok but actually to your point that the gen z never actually answered - you can’t acquire wealth on just salary alone anymore so like actually actually what are we going to do

Anna this is brilliant!!! 🫶🏽 Thank you for putting a voice and a face to the inner turmoil! Blessings on your journey! 🙏🏻

MIllenials and Gen z going into fawn response together

By "hopefull times" we mean people believed. Nowdays everyone knows what nyilism is and not just in what the word means but also how it feels.

I always worked for smaller companies, but now that I'm working for a corporate company I've decided whenever I leave it's back to where I can actually talk to the boss and feel like a person. 👍

This is a perfect sketch! So many killer liners in such a short amount of time!

This is the funniest thing I have seen from you. Well done and great on point message.

Always starting veryyyyy important conversations I don’t know if people realise how realll and deep this is Relate to every word 😅

This is literally my favorite thing I’ve seen in years!

AA, you are an astonishing artist. Thank you for all your wonderful comedy and work over the years.

Wow, as a millennial and someone who works with kids, I am stunned by those commercials. 😢

What is extra ironic is that no one is asking the elder gentleman if they have his consent to touch him?!?!

this one is one of the golds. Pure gold. Well said. Well done.

The 2008 crisis did affect some gen Z. I may have been just a kid, but I went through seeing my family go to ruin through it, and our lives changed drastically.

“Does Big C expect the world that offer breadcrumbs” That had me dead! 🤣 You never fail to entertain us Anna ❤

😭 this was so funny and entertaining- my son turned 20 and we both have different work outlook but I have come to appreciate that this type of point of view and his ability to be able to not accept less in certain situations and in the work place. I just want him to be more successful than me- be it in finances and/or happiness 💜

This was sooo good, bravo!

That was great! Thank you!

If you think that not caring about your kids is a generational thing, you haven't been paying any attention.

NGL, I'm 37 and i still feel young.

ily anna this is great

This is simply brilliant! I love your work, Ms. Akana! Well done! 🤣

Anna's not a back door girl anymore, she's a headliner all the way! Yippie!!!😂

Gen X Parents basically blamed their kids as to why they were broke and didn't have a life

I like how you pulled off two completely different characters and was amazing for both

My favorite PSA is the one where they say a car is stolen every 42 seconds. That's one damned popular car. How does the thief even get fuel in the danged thing, if they only have it for 42 seconds?

"That's when I was born" slayed me.

The one with “do you know where your children are” was definitely a part of life when I was growing up… but I’m gen X so not quite included?

Fantastically done!

Look, the snacks are important because we've never been able to afford food, ok? Now, you said something about a riot. When's that happening, again?

We grew up during the cold War. There was fears of food shortages. There was a petroleum crisis. There was ozone fears. Everyone had their own apocalypse fears.

This is the best thing ive seen all year

Anna Akana is damn good at making videos. One of my favorites.

And not even 10 years after the "Have you hugged your kids today?" slogan came into use, there were groups posing as after-school child care trying to convince kids that their parents hugging them was sxl abuse...