Boomers love to call millennials entitled, but they might need a reality check.
For years, baby boomers have accused millennials of being lazy, selfish, and obsessed with participation trophies. They roll their eyes at younger generations for wanting flexible work schedules, questioning outdated traditions, and valuing mental health over non-stop hustle. But if entitlement means expecting special treatment without considering others, boomers might just be the real champions of it.
Many boomers grew up in an era of stable jobs, affordable housing, and strong pensions, yet they claim younger generations are just too lazy to succeed. They demand respect while refusing to give it in return, expect service workers to cater to their every whim, and believe their opinions should be valued above all else.
Millennials have their flaws, sure—but boomers might need to take a long, hard look in the mirror before pointing fingers. Here are some of the most surprising ways boomers show entitlement without even realizing it.
1. They expect younger generations to fix the mess they made.
Boomers had decades of economic prosperity, low housing costs, and well-funded social programs. Instead of securing a strong future for the next generations, they racked up national debt, ignored climate change, and let wages stagnate while costs skyrocketed. Now, they expect younger workers to clean up the mess without complaint, according to Sean Illing of Vox.
Despite having more financial advantages than any other generation, many boomers still criticize younger people for struggling. Instead of acknowledging the broken systems they left behind, they tell millennials to “just work harder” as if the same opportunities still exist. The entitlement comes in expecting others to deal with the consequences of their choices while taking zero responsibility.
2. They fuss over tipping but demand perfect service.
Boomers have a habit of expecting top-tier service while refusing to tip accordingly. They complain about bad service, leave loose change instead of actual gratuity, and act as if servers should be grateful just to have a job. Meanwhile, many of them worked during an era when minimum wage actually covered rent.
Younger generations understand that service workers rely on tips because wages haven’t kept up with inflation. Millennials are more likely to tip generously, even when money is tight. The boomer mindset of wanting first-class treatment while slacking on generous tipping is a textbook example of entitlement, as reported by You Gov.
3. They demand respect without giving it in return.
Boomers love to say, “Respect your elders,” but they rarely acknowledge that respect is a two-way street. They expect younger people to listen without question, value their opinions above all else, and follow outdated traditions just because “that’s how it’s always been done.”
At the same time, they dismiss younger perspectives, mock new ideas, and refuse to adapt to changing social norms. Respect should be earned, not demanded. Treating younger generations as if their opinions don’t matter while expecting unconditional admiration is entitlement at its finest, as stated by Gary Rudman of Greenbook.
4. They complain about technology but expect free tech support.
Boomers love to rant about how “kids these days” are glued to their phones, yet they can’t seem to function without calling their millennial kids for tech support. They refuse to learn basic troubleshooting but expect immediate help whenever their phone, laptop, or smart TV isn’t working.
Instead of appreciating that younger generations grew up in a digital world, they mock their reliance on technology—until they need someone to reset their Wi-Fi or explain how to use Zoom. Complaining about something while constantly benefiting from it is peak entitlement.
5. They hoard jobs while telling young people to work harder.
Many boomers are staying in the workforce well past retirement age, which wouldn’t be an issue if they weren’t blocking younger workers from moving up. They hold onto high-paying positions, resist new ways of doing things, and then criticize millennials for struggling to advance in their careers.
At the same time, they expect younger workers to be loyal, work extra hours without fair pay, and never question authority. They had access to pensions, job stability, and affordable homes, yet they tell younger generations they just need to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” The hypocrisy is impossible to ignore.
6. They think their opinions should always be heard.
Boomers have an opinion on everything and rarely hesitate to share it, even when no one asked. They believe younger people should sit down, listen, and absorb their wisdom, but they’re the first to roll their eyes when millennials and Gen Z express their thoughts.
This entitlement is especially clear in family discussions, social media, and workplace settings. They expect their voices to carry more weight simply because they’ve “been around longer.” But time spent alive doesn’t automatically mean someone is right.
7. They demand government benefits while opposing them for younger people.
Boomers receive Social Security, Medicare, and other government benefits they paid into, but many fight against policies that would help younger generations. They call student loan forgiveness unfair while ignoring that college tuition was a fraction of today’s costs when they attended.
They benefited from affordable healthcare, housing assistance, and strong social safety nets but now oppose similar programs for millennials. Expecting government support for themselves while actively voting against policies that would help younger people is entitlement on full display.
8. They romanticize the past while ignoring its problems.
Boomers love to talk about how things were “better back in the day,” ignoring the glaring issues of their time. Segregation, discrimination, lower life expectancies, and fewer rights for women and minorities were all real problems, but they prefer to remember cheap gas and simpler times.
They often dismiss social progress as unnecessary or overblown, acting as if younger generations are just “too sensitive.” Wanting the world to stay frozen in the past because it was easier for them is entitlement wrapped in nostalgia.
9. They refuse to acknowledge inflation when giving financial advice.
Boomers love to tell younger generations to save money, buy a house, and stop eating avocado toast. But they completely ignore how wages have stagnated while the cost of living has skyrocketed.
Telling someone to just “work harder” or “stop wasting money on coffee” when home prices have tripled since they were young is wildly out of touch. Giving financial advice based on an economy that no longer exists is both frustrating and unhelpful.
10. They expect free emotional labor from younger generations.
Boomers frequently rely on their millennial and Gen Z children for emotional support but rarely return the favor. They expect younger people to listen to their problems, offer solutions, and show endless patience while dismissing younger people’s struggles as whining.
This dynamic plays out in families, workplaces, and social circles. They want sympathy when they’re struggling but downplay the challenges younger people face. Emotional support should go both ways, not just one direction.
11. They believe rules don’t apply to them.
Boomers often act as if social rules are optional. They cut in line, ignore “no return” policies, and demand exceptions to rules they don’t like. They often act offended when held accountable, insisting they should be treated differently because of their age or experience.
Younger generations were raised to respect boundaries and social norms, yet they’re the ones accused of lacking discipline. Entitlement means believing the rules only apply to others, and boomers seem to have mastered that mindset.
12. They look down on younger generations but expect their help.
Boomers mock millennials for being too sensitive, too lazy, or too obsessed with their phones. But when they need help moving, fixing something, or navigating technology, they turn to those same “lazy” kids they constantly criticize.
They expect younger people to be hardworking, resourceful, and endlessly available while giving them zero credit. If boomers truly think younger generations are entitled, they might want to reconsider who’s always asking for favors.