No. They're pointing out that hard work doesn't make you exceptional, doesn't get you rewarded and doesn't get you ahead.
Since you apparently haven't actually been working for the past fifteen years, the social contract has been almost entirely broken. Busting your arse gets you the same pay as the dude who takes four hour smoke breaks and a shittier quality of life due to stress.
Workers are just refusing to be exploited
Yeah there may be some smaller companies that recognise and recompense great work, but they are the exception, not the rule. And they are increasingly unicorns.