A study in Switzerland shows that the 50 -year -old employees are the most motivated and involved, while their younger colleagues seem less inspired and work strictly as they should.
Employees over 50 are more productive than youth photo: Shutterstock
A recent study by Value Quest research company in Zurich shows that motivated employees are also the most productive, and those who excel in this chapter are those over 50 years old. According to the Inspiring Workplace Index 2025 report, 75% of them say they are determined to give the best at work, and 68% are willing to be actively involved in the changes in the companies, reports Blick.
In contrast, only 46% of employees under 30 are declared sufficiently inspired by the job to dedicate themselves totally, and only 13% would be willing to contribute to the transformation of the organization.
The study, conducted on a sample of 500 people from Switzerland and Liechtenstein, comes in a difficult economic context for Swiss companies, who face the effects of a trade war, geopolitical uncertainties and a strong Swiss franc, affecting exports. In this situation, the involvement of employees is more important than ever.
However, the report shows that two -thirds of the employees feel inspiration and do not want to be actively involved in the changes within the companies. This lack of motivation has direct effects on productivity.
Young people are not to blame but the work environment
The study does not confirm the idea that young people are “lazy” or that only the “baby boomer” generation works out of belief. Researchers say that the lack of involvement of young employees, in fact, comes as a reaction to a demotivating environment.
“It takes more than a correct salary – it takes inspiration”Explains Kathrin Neumüller, research coordinator. She stresses that things such as job stability or symbolic benefits, such as free coffee, are no longer enough to attract today’s employees.
Almost a month a year of lost work
According to estimates in the study, on an ordinary 8.5 hour working day, employees work on average about 2.5 hours in a non-productive way. Although the breaks or informal discussions are natural, the differences in motivation are obvious: the inspired employees work, on average, 38 minutes more a day.
Extrapolated to one year of work, this difference means a loss of up to 19 working days, ie almost a whole month of lost productivity.
