🌻 Where Do They Learn It From?

—A Reflection on Work Ethic Across Generations

I’ve been reflecting on something that hits close to home these days:

Where do young people learn their work ethic from?

Because I know where I learned mine—from my parents.

In our house, being early wasn’t optional.

Being on time meant being prepared.

If you said you were going to do something, you followed through—and you did it right.

You looked people in the eye, you spoke with respect, and you cleaned up after yourself—physically and energetically.

You didn’t need a title to be accountable.

If something needed to be done, you took initiative.

If the team needed help, you showed up.

And if you didn’t know how to do something?

You asked, you learned, and you got it right.

💭 What I See Now

What I see now is different.

I’ve watched younger people walk into jobs with no clear understanding of:

What it means to actually be part of a team How to show up consistently How to accept feedback without defensiveness And how to communicate with professionalism

For many, late is normal.

Calling off for personal inconvenience is no big deal.

There’s little understanding of how presence, timing, or tone affect patient care—or team morale.

Even the language has changed:

“My bad.”

“That’s sick!”

“It’s whatever.”

But in a professional setting—words matter. Presence matters. Accountability matters.

📵 Cell Phones and Half-Attention

Let’s talk about phones.

I’m not anti-technology—but I am concerned about the constant use during shift hours.

Scrolling. Texting. Watching videos between tasks.

There’s a time and place for everything—and the front desk is not the place to be halfway present.

Phones should never get more attention than the patients in front of us.

🛠️ Work Ethic Is Not Just About Work

Work ethic is about how you carry yourself.

How you prepare. How you follow through. How you communicate with others. How you leave a space better than you found it.

These things aren’t outdated. They’re foundational.

And when I ask where young people learn it from—

I’m really asking: Who’s modeling it for them?

Because entitlement grows in silence.

Accountability grows in clarity.

And leadership grows in example.

💬 Final Thoughts

If you’re a leader: Model what you expect.

If you’re seasoned: Mentor with patience.

If you’re young and still learning: Ask questions. Own your growth. Respect the space you’re in.

Work ethic doesn’t start with a paycheck.

It starts with character.

🌻Lady Flava🌻