New Research Reveals a $56 Billion Productivity Loss from Generational Conflict

Uneven AI adoption is intensifying generational divides, fueling missed revenue goals, employee burnout, and lower performance inside organizations.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research reveals that generational conflict inside businesses is quietly draining productivity on a massive scale, costing U.S. employers an estimated $56 billion per year.

The findings are based on a survey of 2,000 U.S. employees in revenue-generating roles across multiple industries, conducted by Clari + Salesloft in partnership with independent research firm Workplace Intelligence. The results show that clashes over technology adoption, communication styles, and expectations around work-life balance are eroding performance, increasing burnout, and pushing some employees toward quitting or early retirement.

As AI becomes embedded in daily activities around revenue generation, uneven adoption across generations is creating two groups inside the same organization: those who use AI to move faster and hit revenue targets, and those who don’t. Instead of resolving existing tensions, this divide is compounding them — driving friction, burnout, and missed revenue goals.

“Employees in revenue-generating roles should be one of the biggest beneficiaries of AI, but right now it’s becoming a divider instead of a multiplier,” said Steve Cox, CEO at Clari + Salesloft. “Some employees use AI to move faster, speed up buying cycles, and hit their revenue targets. Others are resisting it or barely using it. That gap is creating friction inside teams and dragging down performance. When AI is implemented intentionally, it aligns how work gets done and raises the floor for everyone, not just the early adopters.”

Key findings from the 2026 Research Report:

• $56 billion in productivity lost annually. Generational conflict is costing organizations an average of 5.3 hours per employee per week, adding up to nearly $56 billion in lost productivity for revenue-generating roles across the U.S.
• The human toll is rising. Generational friction is increasing stress and burnout across age groups. This tension is reflected in the fact that 39% of Gen Z respondents say they would rather be managed by AI than a Baby Boomer, while 25% of Boomers say they would prefer working with AI over a Gen Z colleague.
• Some employees are heading for the door. 28% of Gen Z respondents report they are searching for a new job where they can avoid working with Boomers. However, Boomers are looking for a way out too — 19% say they plan to retire early due to frustrations with Gen Z.
• Technology has become a generational battleground. 60% of Baby Boomers say Gen Z’s tech-first approach is destroying customer relationships. Meanwhile, Gen Z says Boomer resistance to technology is killing innovation (64%) and costing them deals (63%).
• Communication breakdowns are costing revenue. More than 8 in 10 respondents report seeing deals lost because colleagues failed to adapt their communication style to customer expectations.
• Work-life balance has sparked a generational standoff. 71% of Gen Z believe Boomers value hours worked over results, and 56% blame Boomers for today’s toxic work culture. However, 64% of Boomers say Gen Z prioritizes work-life balance over business needs.
• The reality? AI is giving younger employees an edge. The data tells the story: 88% of Gen Z respondents say they always or often hit their revenue targets, compared with 78% of Baby Boomers — challenging the assumption that longer hours translate into better results.
• AI is seen as a unifying force if used intentionally. Survey respondents say AI can improve knowledge sharing (86%), bridge experience gaps (80%), and strengthen cross-generational communication (79%).

Despite these benefits, nearly two-thirds (64%) admit they aren’t using the full capabilities of the AI tools available to them. To address this, the research highlights practical steps companies can take to accelerate AI impact, including investing in tools employees actually want to use and supporting gradual adoption.

“The $56 billion productivity loss is only the visible cost,” added Cox. “When AI adoption is fragmented, the damage compounds and leads to missed forecasts, slower execution, and higher attrition quarter after quarter. At that point, generational conflict isn’t a culture issue; it’s a balance-sheet issue.”

For the complete findings, access the full report here: https://www.salesloft.com/resources/guides/generational-conflict-ai-sales-productivity

About Clari and Salesloft

Together, Clari and Salesloft create a category-transforming AI company for revenue, building the foundation for a Predictive Revenue System — a system that guides revenue teams to accelerate growth. The company combines the broadest dataset, capturing both structured and unstructured signals. End-to-end revenue orchestration capabilities unlock new levels of AI-driven productivity and predictability. Thousands of the world’s most successful companies — including Adobe, IBM, 3M, and Zoom — trust Clari and Salesloft to drive predictable revenue growth.

Learn more: https://www.salesloft.com/clari-salesloft-merger