The other day, a few bosses were standing around bitching that "nobody wants to work anymore" and "young people don't know what a 'work ethic' is" and how when they have job postings they go unfilled sometimes for weeks at a time. I think all of this (and their clueless reaction) are hilarious.
One, study after study have shown that people who go "above and beyond" at their job are underpaid, overworked, underappreciated and undervalued. So, why do more than what you're paying me to do? It just burns you out faster, and then everyone expects you to do what is now your "normal", and if you do the "minimum" (i.e. your actual job) you're punished and scorned.
Two, this antiquated notion of a "work ethic" (especially here in the States) is a combination of puritan mindfuckery and capitalism brainwashing, and the younger generation aren't having it. Plus, when it's something that matters to them (from pooling money, time and resources to go to a festival or helping out someone who truly needs the community), they are definitely motivated.
Three, anyone with a brain can look around and see that we're all just going through the motions since it's quite apparent that our way of life (and world) are collapsing all around us. Why waste time at a shitty job with no benefits to speak of, subpar pay, and upper management completely divorced from how any of us feel - or even how to do our jobs, in some cases- since none of this will really matter? Why give up part of your life (and potentially your health) for a job that won't even miss you if something happens to you?