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5 Ways to Make Your Company Gen Y-Friendly
pcworld.com — Facing a potential onslaught of baby boomer retirements and a smaller pool of Generation X employees to replace them, IT managers who want to create or sustain a Best Place to Work environment will need the additional help of another group of professionals: Generation Y.
vats- 471 diggs
- digg it
- vats, on 06/27/2008, -11/+4Really informative.
- jks139, on 06/27/2008, -5/+11Hire them!
- SuperWinner, on 06/27/2008, -4/+13Them fire them a week later, and say "Psyche!" They will not know what that means.
- praisethelard, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I know what that means...and I believe I qualify for Gen Y benefits.
- PaulOwen, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3"No. 1: Offer attractive benefits. Salary is a key consideration for members of this group, but so are benefits."
That's genius. Salary and benefits were never important to any previous generation.
Stupid, stupid article.
- Hincapie, on 06/28/2008, -2/+6my problem seems to be GETTING a job
- jjcyber, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3^Ditto! Getting a job nowadays is wicked hard. If it weren't for all the bills pilling up, I'd chillax and wait till the boomers all died, and they had to hire me. If only....
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2Your first lesson: nobody HAS to hire you.
I will underline the next clue that finally pulls in to the station.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2Your first lesson: nobody HAS to hire you.
- SuperWinner, on 06/27/2008, -4/+13Them fire them a week later, and say "Psyche!" They will not know what that means.
- clonek, on 06/27/2008, -3/+18A comfortable, relaxing enviroment is at the top of my list. Working in a place where everything is a different shade of beige just makes me sad :(
- eggsovereasy, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Really all I want is to be able to were shorts and flip flops.
- Giga, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1I can wear shorts and flip flops to work. Not that I would want to, pyjamas and slippers are much more comfortable. I love software development, we don't deal directly with customers so it doesn't matter what we wear to work (as long as it doesn't offend the coworkers).
- eggsovereasy, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Yeah I am a software developer too, but my company says I have to wear slacks and a collared shirt. I cheat and wear tennis shoes though.
- eggsovereasy, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Really all I want is to be able to were shorts and flip flops.
- staxofmax, on 06/27/2008, -0/+65Good benefits, flexible work hours, opportunities for advancement, friendly bosses, and a friendly work environment sound like job perks that would appeal to everybody working in a corporate environment, not just generation Y. What is the point of this article?
- Aadain, on 06/28/2008, -1/+12I think the point is that Gen-Y actually expects those perks and is willing to wait for the boomers to retire/die off to get them. Previous generations didn't have that option and had to make due.
- Pishposh30, on 06/28/2008, -3/+11Ya, keep living with your parents while you wait for all those things to happen.
- MoneyShot, on 06/28/2008, -2/+7To sell advertising. You read it? Mission accomplished.
- Aadain, on 06/28/2008, -1/+12I think the point is that Gen-Y actually expects those perks and is willing to wait for the boomers to retire/die off to get them. Previous generations didn't have that option and had to make due.
- Ravenlark, on 06/27/2008, -3/+2Sounds about right.
- lokee73, on 06/27/2008, -32/+41Oh ***** Gen-Y.
These whiney little bitches need a dose of reality to kick them in the ass.- Louis11, on 06/28/2008, -9/+24You sound like a whiney little bitch . . .
- p51d007, on 06/28/2008, -17/+22Amen!
I've said NO to too many Gen-Y types, coming in with NO experience, expecting too
much in salary with NO experience, wanting 4 day work week, too many perks.
Go work in a 7-11 if you think you are that damn special. They can't spell, can't
speak properly without the damn "dude" or some other crap. Boy, are some of these spoiled brats going to be in for a shock.- Galaxylander, on 06/28/2008, -13/+7Hey, Mr. Douche. Guess what? I bet that your employer thought the exact damn thing about you when you were a kid trying to get a first job. Everybody has to start somewhere, you can't just randomly expect people to have work experience out of the blue. You have to have a job to have work experience. You need to teach the person to become a strong employee rather then bitching about how they're not already?
How about you do YOUR job instead of bitching about them not doing theirs?
Great job stereotyping an entire generation of people. What the hell is your problem you old coot? Societal values have changed, and saying 'dude' now is the same as saying 'groovy' when you were a kid.
Calling them spoiled? You stuck up piece of crap. You remind be of every single older person that's so stuck in their own 'perfect' generation that was just as awful as the one they're living in.
YOUR GENERATION WAS JUST AS AWFUL AS THIS ONE.
You have a distorted view of your past, you make it what you want to make it. Most older people do. People always think of their generation as better then the current one because they were part of it.
Well you know what? Thinking you're better then everyone else just makes you an ass.
Go get osteoporosis or something, old coot. - BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -1/+8Actually, galaxylander, when him and I were applying for work we were told to ***** off, there was no work, and how dare we try and even approach their precious jobs.
We succeeded IN SPITE of them.
So reading that they're now trying to figure out how to suck up to you and beg you to work there is kind of anger-inducing.
Noone ever wrote any article on catering to my whims and caprices, they simply told me that it was a recession and to go it my own way.
You don't realise how spoiled a bunch you are, and you have the arrogance and mouth not backed up by your balls. THAT you will realise a decade from now - JUST LIKE WE DID. - passedoutghost, on 06/29/2008, -0/+0You've probably met some real wankers then. I fall into the "Gen-Y" category, but I'm realistic. I have no legal experience whatsoever and will do whatever it takes to get a foot in the door. I'd even want to work for free if that got me the experience. I don't expect an exorbitant amount of pay, I'd just expect the standard for my position and experience (which may be peanuts, which I'm fine with). And I realise that once I graduate and have all the necessary qualifications and experience, it's not going to be easy sailing, but I can deal with that. I won't like it but I'll endure it. Same goes for many of my friends. They aren't the self centered pricks that the media makes them out to be. Many are in the same boat.
It's the negative stereotypes that are encouraged which leads to a decrease in employment rates of "Gen-Yer's". "Oh, he was born in such and such a year, he must be lazy, decadent and unloyal to the company." That's stupid. You can't judge a person based upon what year he or she was born in. You hire them solely upon the basis of their individual merit and ability. Or am I being too ***** naive here?
- Galaxylander, on 06/28/2008, -13/+7Hey, Mr. Douche. Guess what? I bet that your employer thought the exact damn thing about you when you were a kid trying to get a first job. Everybody has to start somewhere, you can't just randomly expect people to have work experience out of the blue. You have to have a job to have work experience. You need to teach the person to become a strong employee rather then bitching about how they're not already?
- luchid, on 06/28/2008, -10/+23Settle down, grandpa.
- Firehed, on 06/28/2008, -8/+13Sorry to break it to you, but reality changed. You can go back to working a ***** job in the steel mill with long hours for low pay; I, meanwhile, will bitch at my boss as necessary until things get shaken up (which does work in non-crap companies), while growing my own business out of my true passions on the side. And yes, I do this (successfully, I might add), so let's save the nonsensical rants for the type that expect changes from online petitions.
If you think reality means long hours for bad benefits and no recognition, I don't expect we'd get along too well in any sort of professional setting.- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -5/+4Oh, so in other words, you're going to sit around collecting a cheque until your real desire in life comes to fruition? Hence only coming in four days a week, seven hours a day, etc.... Thanks, but anyone with a clue will hire someone who wishes to work at the company and devote his or her attention to said cause.
- Giga, on 06/28/2008, -3/+2"Oh, so in other words, you're going to sit around collecting a cheque until your real desire in life comes to fruition?"
It sounded more like they weren't sitting around, they were actually working to make it happen. Both at their current job, and on their side project.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -5/+4Oh, so in other words, you're going to sit around collecting a cheque until your real desire in life comes to fruition? Hence only coming in four days a week, seven hours a day, etc.... Thanks, but anyone with a clue will hire someone who wishes to work at the company and devote his or her attention to said cause.
- swiftheart, on 06/28/2008, -3/+4"These whiney little bitches need a dose of reality to kick them in the ass."
Some would say that is, at least in part, occurring. According to the book "Generation Me" Millenials come into the world believing they can do everything, and get flustered by the fact that the workplace/work world really isn't like that. Depression and suicide rates for Gen Y are significantly higher than for previous generations at the same age.
There's going to have to be give and take for both sides. Employers will have to adjust to employees who have different expectations regarding work, loyalty, promotion, etc, and employees will have to notch their expectations down a bit...and realize that not everyone can be rich/famous/vice-president of operations.- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3I live in Holland (Australian though) and I reckon Holland is like this Gen-Y phenomenom but on a much larger scale.
Here, kids and rarely disciplined, given a VERY long leash and are largely, rude arrogant ***** heads. They get praised for everything they manage to achieve and are very spoiled. (this observation comes from about 7 years living here). I parallel this with the tendency back home to be lenient, much easier on the kids, less discipline etc.
Problem is, these kids get a bit older and come looking for a job. They get some knowledge either at home or at school and think, cause life has taught them they are very very special, that they can ask for crazy money/conditions, that day to day work is beneath them and that the world should see them as the special snow flake they are.
Of course this country is more extreme than my home or America, but I think its a good glimpse into the future for our countries. Not pretty.
Of course, whats happening is no company wants to hire the locals, they get in expats (older ones, like myself) to do all the high paying, skilled tech work, the low skilled work is farmed out to India or Eastern Europe and the kids are stuck. And its not just cause its cheaper (in a lot of cases wouldn't be if HR costs for these little ***** weren't always so high).
As for employers, I don't think they will give too much, especially when this whole Gen-Y thing can be avoided by looking slightly overseas. - BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2No thanks, I'm not going to adjust. If "I'm straight out of college and the sun shines out of my anus" thinks he knows the job better than everyone else, let him open his own company (a real one, not some social networking ***** IPO) and prove it.
Their "I'm gonna open my own business" line is like Baby Boomer get rich quick schemism. Making your own business is hard work, and nothing else makes Gen Y ***** itself faster than work: unpleasant, necessary, un-fun, un-hip, mommy can't phone in a note for you WORK.
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3I live in Holland (Australian though) and I reckon Holland is like this Gen-Y phenomenom but on a much larger scale.
- Branyers, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2"You're all gonna die in a pointless war!"
- roliver, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Amen, whiny little mommas boy get all misty when their boss yells at them for coming 2 hours late every day, then complain to their mommies to talk to the big bad boss man cause "he makes me sad". I hate you little ***** Gen-Y'er crybabies. I can't put all the blame on you though. Your fat ass parents, giving you whatever you wanted and telling you all time.. "my little tommy is special" I hope all you ***** wads get you asses shot off in Iraq.
...boy I feel better now.- passedoutghost, on 06/29/2008, -1/+1Wow, you sound like a sad old man. I'm a "Gen-Y'er" (I hate these stupid names) and I'm always early for work and for everything else for the matter. I never got everything I wanted and had to work for it. I paid for my laptop from my own wages and I pay my own uni fees and pay for my own books despite my parents offering to pay for me. My grandparents weren't baby boomers. We grew up poor. So stop making your ***** generalisations. Oh and by the way, most of those "Gen-Y'ers" who are getting their asses shot off in Iraq and Afghanistan were misguided by an incompetent administration and believe/d that they were fighting to protect YOUR freedom and rights.
- SuperWinner, on 06/27/2008, -5/+20The day I hire an Emu will be a sad day indeed... oh, wait Emo, sorry.
- tfrans, on 06/28/2008, -5/+7I think one of the most important things for me is transparency in my boss. I don't want to work for somebody I don't trust and I don't want to work for a company I don't trust.
This is a huge shift from the tight ass businessmen that have run corporations for so long but it's not working anymore. Consumers and employees alike want to trust the companies they're interacting with and won't accept ***** anymore. Perhaps this is my naive side showing through (I work for a great employer who I'm proud to work for). But, I think here in Canada WestJet has proven that accountability and honesty is a great way to build customer loyalty. I remember a quote from the WestJet owner or CEO:"We take care of our employees, our employees take care of our customers and our customers take care of our bottom line." It's a pretty radical shift in my position but I'm eager to see honest business really succeed over the traditional corporate world. - pradaaddict, on 06/28/2008, -3/+8Hmm well from my own experience i can say that what I'm looking for in a work environment is a high degree of autonomy, i want to be able to accomplish what is set before me without management getting in my face about dumb *****. Call me out if I'm wrong, if i'm not wrong then just send me an email. I also want opportunity for fast advancement up the corporate ladder, if no such opportunity presents itself within two years then i'm going to leave and take all my talent with me.
I'm not going to grow your business without seeing a decent return for myself as well.- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3I love it how a job is actually meant to be something that's entirely for the employee's benefit.
Showing up and doing Facebook all day is not "growing my business". WORK is.- pradaaddict, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2it's an exchange. the company exchanges its money and or stock options for my time, talent, skills and knowledge.
also not every Gen-y person sits on facebook at work. - BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1You're missing something else:
they're paying to have someone reliable they can count on. If you've got this attitude that you're only going to be there as long as you see fit, and it's incumbent on your employer to give you a valid reason to show up for work in the morning, then I have no real valid reason to hire you.
Hiring people is expensive, and the higher up you go in the world, the more expensive it gets. It takes time and energy to integrate someone into a team and get them up to speed on the business. Regardless of how much or how little you know, there is a cost to hiring you and bringing you up to speed.
So the idea that you're just, you know, putting in what you need to to just get a cheque until your skateboarding social networking site takes off at which time you quit - don't bother showing up in the first place.
- pradaaddict, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2it's an exchange. the company exchanges its money and or stock options for my time, talent, skills and knowledge.
- WiseAcre, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1I agree with the need for more autonomy in the workplace. The 'fast advancement', I'm not too concerned about.
Lastly, I lost a little respect for you after reading your name... prada.. addict? - logosx1, on 06/29/2008, -0/+0Take your mouth and your attitude with you.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3I love it how a job is actually meant to be something that's entirely for the employee's benefit.
- antonio97b, on 06/28/2008, -9/+3I got called racial slurs and almost got in a fist fight today with a redneck over the smell of my canned tuna during lunch at work. The only thing that can save my work is nuking it from orbit.
I work in a metal fab company btw.- spilk, on 06/28/2008, -4/+4You will soon learn that bringing any sort of smelly fish product into work will get you dirty looks.
- spilk, on 06/28/2008, -5/+1please do not interpret that as condoning racist behavior. that part was uncalled for. but bringing fish to work is a major faux pas.
- antonio97b, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2dirty looks and and fists apparently.
I guess he didn't like the tuna here (Fast and Furious reference) - mecharabbit, on 06/28/2008, -5/+1I'm voting for Obama, just to equalize the injustice done to you.
- Deputy_Doodah, on 06/28/2008, -9/+2Awww. Well bless your little heart. Did ums get ums feelings hurt?
--
Ever consider you were in the wrong to bring pungent "food" to work? Save the stench for your cats.
You deserved some name-calling for that. Deal with it, whiner.- antonio97b, on 06/28/2008, -3/+7Eh? I think he got mad when he unsucessfuly tried to knock the tuna from my hand and I threw it and hit him square in the chin with it splashing tuna water in his face.
Your trolling is poor. - HonoredMule, on 06/28/2008, -1/+1I should probably bury that...t'was a crude and strongly unprofessional way to handle conflict.
*digg*
- antonio97b, on 06/28/2008, -3/+7Eh? I think he got mad when he unsucessfuly tried to knock the tuna from my hand and I threw it and hit him square in the chin with it splashing tuna water in his face.
- inspecality, on 06/28/2008, -2/+1Geez, calm down big tuna.
- spilk, on 06/28/2008, -4/+4You will soon learn that bringing any sort of smelly fish product into work will get you dirty looks.
- MacFlecknoe, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3How do you promote both telecommuting and "face time"... sounds a little pie-eyed.
- geodebug, on 06/28/2008, -4/+18I'd be embarrassed if I was a gen-Y to be described by this article.
"Millennials are willing to work hard, but when it comes to moving up the ranks, they want to do so quickly..."
Oh dear me. Why don't I just hire them to be my manager?
I'll take the fact that business changes through time but you still have to bring a lot to the table before you demand anything. Is the job market that good?- Aadain, on 06/28/2008, -3/+4All the boomers are near retirement. So yes, the future job market is looking up for Gen-Y :)
- andreusboy, on 06/28/2008, -0/+9Boomers ***** everything up. They gobbled all the wealth and made sure there were no benefits left, more work for less pay and stall innovation in order to keep their niche.
- boogface, on 06/28/2008, -5/+6Here's the difference. Gen-Y is interested in working WITH you.
Sounds to me like you're only interested in being in charge and giving orders.- MelvinSchlubman, on 06/28/2008, -2/+7No, geodebug was objecting (at least I was) to the sense of entitlement that the article ascribes to Millennials. They supposedly (according to TFA) expect rapid advancement. And I'd like to eat lots of cake without getting fat...
- dystra, on 06/28/2008, -1/+6I'm gen-y and i am embarrassed, specifically with the quote you pointed out. it's pretty much saying we want something for nothing. Thinking like that is bad for a company and a country.
- geodebug, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1You're hired!
- Aadain, on 06/28/2008, -3/+4All the boomers are near retirement. So yes, the future job market is looking up for Gen-Y :)
- Solstice, on 06/28/2008, -3/+10It's not going to matter whether or not you make your company Gen-Y friendly pretty soon. Like their parents before them, they're just going to be happy to have a job if the layoffs continue.
- Firehed, on 06/28/2008, -5/+3Where do you work, a coal plant? My current employer is growing at record rates; meanwhile I almost hope to get fired so that I'll have proper incentive to get started on my own venture (not to mention enough free time to work on it).
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3So quit, know-it-all.
- BeardDob, on 06/28/2008, -0/+0I know nothing that is said here will impact any of Gen Y. The cold slap of reality will only hit them with time and experience. You can work on all the private ventures you wish, 99.9% will sadly fail. Odds are you will fail and end up working as a data entry clerk at your local "IT" factory. This does not mean you should not try, just do not blindly expect to succeed.
The best you can hope for is to find a life that makes you happy. Do not expect it to be easy and do not expect to succeed just because you tried.
- Firehed, on 06/28/2008, -5/+3Where do you work, a coal plant? My current employer is growing at record rates; meanwhile I almost hope to get fired so that I'll have proper incentive to get started on my own venture (not to mention enough free time to work on it).
- loopyloopy, on 06/28/2008, -4/+10more and more i see why Gen X is called 'Gen X'. the generation in between that nobody really cared about. where was the love when we were entering the work force??
- Bloodwine, on 06/28/2008, -6/+8Boomers told Gen X, "Shuddup and deal with it, slackers". They then turn around to Gen Y who are even bigger slackers and say, "Anything you guys want! Please like us!".
- bungoman, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2That's because Gen X didn't have the guts to stand up for themselves.
- Tatsumaki, on 06/28/2008, -2/+8Punish the kids, spoil the grandkids.
- HonoredMule, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1It's not just myopic, self-centered views giving rise to this perceived discrepancy, either. I sit in the middle between generations and I'm seeing the gradual shift. It makes me very thankful that the bulk of my professional career will occur during Gen-Y dominance.
- Bloodwine, on 06/28/2008, -6/+8Boomers told Gen X, "Shuddup and deal with it, slackers". They then turn around to Gen Y who are even bigger slackers and say, "Anything you guys want! Please like us!".
- spilk, on 06/28/2008, -6/+1They forgot Beer.
- MrSketch, on 06/28/2008, -1/+11For the most part, I agree with all the ideas in general, not just specific to Gen-Y. The one that I strongly disagree with is "#3: Narrow the rungs of the corporate ladder. Millennials are willing to work hard, but when it comes to moving up the ranks, they want to do so quickly." After all, who doesn't want to move up quickly, the problem is that has to be earned, not given just because you worked there for a few years.
The very next sentence says "According to the study, 51% of Millennials surveyed believe professionals entering the workforce should have to spend only one to two years proving themselves in entry-level positions." One or two years to prove yourself? I guess it depends on your job, but I read that as saying "51% are delusional." Sometimes, it can easily take up to 5 years or sometimes even 10 to show that you're ready for a promotion.
I just don't think they should make concessions in promotions and corporate structure just to accommodate people who are just anxious to get promoted, because who isn't anxious for a promotion?- pradaaddict, on 06/28/2008, -2/+5with the high employee turnover rate and fast pace of business these days, two years sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I rarely see a middle manager last more than 4 years in the same position
- boogface, on 06/28/2008, -3/+55 - 10 years to move up from entry level? proving yourself to who? as the entry level Gen-Y employee, I'm interested in working WITH you on our common goals while it seems you're only interested in keeping me at entry level as long as possible.
throw out some good reasons why a person should not be promoted if they are actively engaged in the team.- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -3/+4Some reasons?
* Work quality sucks
* Poor attitude towards both management/customers and assigned workload
* Poor outwards appearance (The first taste is with the eyes)
I would also be considered part of Gen-Y (sigh) but these companies owe you nothing.The opposite is true too. But they have the jobs and the money unless you choose to go it alone, but with the above problems, good luck with that. For me, I just went freelance, so basically none of that article applies to me :)
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -3/+4Some reasons?
- bungoman, on 06/28/2008, -1/+4Are you kidding me? With the rare exception most jobs take far less than two years to prove yourself in. Obviously if you want to be a lawyer or doctor that's not the case, but for your average paper pushing job, being stuck at the bottom for more than two years is ridiculous. Especially when most people could easily find a better job if they weren't so afraid to go out and look. I'm not saying people should be promoted to management after 6 months or anything silly like that. But the idea of paying your dues for the sake of paying your dues is insulting.
- lookupandy, on 06/28/2008, -0/+3I think 2 years sounds about right...
I also think it's easier to move from an entry-level job if you change companies after a year or 2 of training. I did a graphic design degree, and our head lecturer advised us to stay in our first job no longer than 1.5 years, to prevent being stuck in a junior position.
Seems to have worked for me - soulonice, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1In the bureaucratic corporate environment, narrowing the rungs skews the workplace into increasing the numbers of middle management. USELESS middle management.
- doshindude, on 06/28/2008, -0/+26So, when do you think these articles will stop popping up? This "Gen _" stuff is almost as annoying as "Web 2.0"
- Bloodwine, on 06/28/2008, -1/+4Maybe the Boomer retirement is a good thing in the long-term. I think our workforce is too large to be honest. What i mean is, there are too many useless positions out there that exist for the sake of employing people.
We managed to get as far as we did when there were one-income families. That tells me that we could get by with a lot less workers.
Not every workplace is the same, and people at smaller firms are more likely to be overworked and underpaid, but overall there has to be a lot of dead weight.- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3I agree here as well.
I think some of the problem has been a real lack of innovation on a corporate level. We have had largely protectorate like companies, keeping their niche and protecting their patents, with no workers innovating. Innovation creates new jobs, new markets and new opportunities for many people.
It'll happen, just not sure when.- tehjarvis, on 06/28/2008, -2/+1Um...It happened quite a few years ago when the internet became a major tool of the work force.
- boothin8or, on 06/28/2008, -1/+0Well, I read an article in Wired magazine predicting about 15 to 20 more years of decent economy, and people don't change until push comes to shove. Which kind of makes sense, considering the following explanation: At this point, the older boomers are retiring, and with them goes the lion's share of the knowledge about how to actually do things. After that, it's all going to work by magic in the corporate world, with the two clueful people in the department telling a huge number of hard-working, yet utterly disconnected, workers what to do. But you can still bank on that for a while.
The problem then comes that the quality of the work slowly goes down, and the flow of information between departments stops. So companies begin to fragment on subsidiary and department lines, eventually selling off various underperforming parts of the company or bringing in consultants to fix problems their relatively highly paid workers are bad at and have too much dead weight being lugged around. And that is where the smaller business owners come in for the kill.
Of course, there are going to be corporations that will navigate this time without a major problem, as management in those places are already concerned. They will be sure to document as much of what has been done and what is happening as possible, so that when all the boomers retire, there is at least a way for the new people to rediscover what it means to do the job right. But with workers committing to work for any one company for life less and less, it still means that there are only a few clueful people at the top of the skills ladder. But at least they know what is important, and can educate their workers using documentation if necessary. But they are going to be quite protective, considering that should they try to move to another job, they will be hard pressed to convince their future employers that their aging and increasingly archaic skillset can be applied to other areas of the same field.
Meh, it's really a toss-up. - HonoredMule, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1tehjarvis: I think it would be more accurate to say that it happened in isolated regions for a brief stint when the internet became a major tool of the workforce. While the internet has certainly fostered creativity and innovation overall (but at a level which leaves me largely unimpressed*), it is being systematically conquered by "protectorate like" companies, much like radio and television before it. Sadly, I wouldn't count on it surviving as the driving force it has been in the past. Killing off the IP-squatters and balancing the draconian IP laws that are enabling the various hegemonies will do far more for innovation than a declining platform whose potential was never realized by more than a fragment of the populace.
*The level of innovative output empowered by the internet has been a disappointing fragment of what ought to be possible from over a billion people in Europe and North America alone.
- geodebug, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Retiring boomers are actually going to be a big drain on the system. While they are working they are paying taxes. Once they all retire those of us left will be turning more and more of our paychecks to Medicare.
I think the only thing that could counter balance that would be an influx of young labor from legal immigrants.
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3I agree here as well.
- Phocion55, on 06/28/2008, -1/+20.) Kegerator in the break room
- InorganicMatter, on 06/28/2008, -9/+2On one hand, all the people I'm going to have to bear my whole life with make me hate living in this era. On the other hand, I'll have lots of sheeple around to help make me rich. I look forward to capitalizing on Generation Y. Just give 'em Apple products and an occasional Internet connection, and they'll do anything you ask 'em to do.
- sexypeon, on 06/28/2008, -2/+2Gen Y is not all that bad, get out and get some friends.
- InorganicMatter, on 06/28/2008, -3/+1Gen Y is horrible. I give them a chance at least once a week and they never fail to disappoint me.
- sexypeon, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1You have obviously never met the immigrant workers I work with.
- sexypeon, on 06/28/2008, -2/+2Gen Y is not all that bad, get out and get some friends.
- imperson, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2Duh. Who wouldn't want a job with great pay, great benefits, and a fast ladder...? The question is can companies actually do this (other than Google)? I agree with doshindude, this is one Gen-Y article too many. It makes Gen-Y sound spoiled. As if Boomers were not...
- CrushThemTorg, on 06/28/2008, -4/+12I'm going to murder someone over 40 every time I see the world "millenial."
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -2/+4Such a millenial attitude.
- praisethelard, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2This is the first time I've even heard that word...but I agree.
- HonoredMule, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1It's not a new word...but we could destroy it anyway. It looks like that operation is already in progress.
- Rioracer916, on 06/28/2008, -1/+14Older digg posters/ trolls: "The newer generations will always be the downfall of man kind. "
It's an ignorant mentality, considering how selfish the baby boomers where, which is why the US is in the financial and political mess it is currently.
Ever consider that generations are the product of their fore-bearers? Ergo you can't look at things from a simplistic us versus them view, but a more holistic approach.
And yeah, I just quit a job because I was working 60-70 hours a week (sometimes weekends) with no overtime and a horrible commute. My effective hourly wage was less than the national minimum wage. It's not spoiled to want to have some type of work life balance in your life. Most of those items in the list are items that ANY generation would like to have in a job.- andreusboy, on 06/28/2008, -1/+5Took the words right out of me.
- KingGorilla, on 06/28/2008, -1/+8You mean treat them like humans? That's insane!
- Rioracer916, on 06/28/2008, -1/+7It will never fly! Human capital is no different than stocks, bonds, and widgets. Bah humbug!
- rowjimmy, on 06/28/2008, -0/+5actually, it's even easier to exploit, being a self-renewing resource and all
- WiseAcre, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2That depends if you consider our unsustainable fossil fuel farming systems, remember ;)
- Rioracer916, on 06/28/2008, -1/+7It will never fly! Human capital is no different than stocks, bonds, and widgets. Bah humbug!
- swiftheart, on 06/28/2008, -0/+8There is by all means a commonly held belief by the Millenials that they can do anything, so why can't they be allowed/encouraged to do so?
But a few other things are in play. The first thing is that previous generations more or less expected/desired to work for the same company for their working careers, so there really wasn't much expectation regarding high speed promotion.
Millenials don't want to and certainly don't expect to work at the same company, or even in the same profession, for all that long. (It's part of wanting variety, but it's also the realization that companies aren't particularly loyal to their employees.) So if you don't see yourself at a company all that long, you need/want the resume which will allow you to move around. And the only thing that will keep you from moving around will be getting promoted quickly.
This is a group of people who are accustomed to the idea that there are jobs which existed 3 years ago which don't exist anymore. The speed of change is very fast, job-hopping is the norm, new skills are added daily, people move around quickly.- Rioracer916, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I think you're on to something.
- bungoman, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Nail on the ***** head. If I ever had to work at the same company for 25 years like my dad did/does I would blow my brains out. Plus I think the concept of job security is ridiculous. Why keep me if they can find someone to do it better or for less money?
- Narthex81, on 06/28/2008, -3/+9Hrm... I'm 27 and I don't consider myself to be Generation Y. I always considered myself to be part of the Boomerang Generation (or MTV Generation) that was born between 1975 and 1984. Well, I guess that's in between Gen-X and Gen-Y so I could go either way. What I'm trying to say is: I don't want to be lumped in with a generation that is constantly seeking praise, instant gratification and feels they're entitled to whatever they want. Although, good benefits would be nice...
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -2/+5Gen-Y more and more reminds me of watching a childrens TV show
"Kick the ball!"
*kick*
"You win!, Everyone Wins!!!"
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -2/+5Gen-Y more and more reminds me of watching a childrens TV show
- lohphat, on 06/28/2008, -6/+12Why would I want to hire an inexperienced douchbag with an over-inflated sense of entitlement from the precious snowflake generation in the first place?
/lawn, off- bungoman, on 06/28/2008, -3/+3Cause old assholes like you are dying off or are overqualified for just about every position we could fill.
- lohphat, on 06/28/2008, -5/+1I may be older, but I have more money than you, can do more than you, and I'm not a whiny mouth-breathing TSA reject,
- boothin8or, on 06/28/2008, -0/+3Yeah, but if you'd take a kid in every once in a while and teach him the ropes and some hard lessons, maybe he'd learn what it means to work rather than keeping that knowledge with you to your grave.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+1Booth: most of you kids would ***** yourselves and quit.
That's why you're looking for the groovy job with fast advancement without having to put in the work.
- , on 06/28/2008, -0/+1For what it is worth, I like hiring inexperienced new grads. They
1) cost less to employ,
2) get more work done in a given length of time
3) bring a level of energy and out-of-box thinking that puts to shame established old-timers who are just there to pick up a paycheck.
To us older farts, what I find even more disturbing is that when I employ younger kids, the project always gets done ahead of schedule. Older people work longer, charge more hours, but get less done and usually complain more.
You don't need to "teach kids the ropes". It's the kids who need to teach us older "in-the-box" folks the new ropes of the new economy.
Here's to you Gen-Y!
Thanks.
- bungoman, on 06/28/2008, -3/+3Cause old assholes like you are dying off or are overqualified for just about every position we could fill.
- scottperezfox, on 06/28/2008, -5/+7I agree that the whole concept of "paying your dues" needs to vanish. Either you can, or you can't [yet]. Keeping someone down for ritual's sake is *****.
- javaroast, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3Phrase it as learning your trade then if that's more palatable to you. The bottom line is that for a lot of industries initially you probably can't, but can be taught the ropes with some teaching and some effort on your part and a willingness to learn. Do that and you'll get ahead one way or another. Be it by promotion or by moving to another job.
- changedmind, on 06/28/2008, -7/+5Anyone ever met a Gen Y "Professional"?
- Barackalypse, on 06/28/2008, -2/+4Once, it had metal in its lip and nose and I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, and I think it worked for some indie music promotion company.
- Thyris, on 06/28/2008, -7/+7Both sides are right on many issues, both the older and newer generations. However, you can't deny, that the techy Gen-Y'ers are some of the f'cking speediest computer users available.
Gen Y programmers 4x as fast as oldie goldies (our time will come)
Gen Y IT dept peeps can fix the prob before you've even finished describing it, oldies want you to write it down, or send an e-mail.
We have the advantage in tech (for now), why shouldn't we get paid more when our output is considerably higher?- Branyers, on 06/28/2008, -3/+3Speed != reliability, and it's a downright ***** substitute
- spekesel, on 06/28/2008, -3/+6Well, thats a rather large generalization. In my experience, the young kids I have witnessed usually get insolent pretty quick doing support, if google doesn't hand feed them the answer they get frustrated quickly, lateral thinking isn't usually there and if they don't get constant reassurance ("Who's a GOOOOD little boy, yes you are, yes you are. Have a cookie") then they get all whiny and the output turns very close to 0. And god help you if you push them to a 2nd/3rd level support role.
Programmers, if fed caffeine are awesome though.- Lesli, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I don't understand what's so bad about wanting a little reassurance, really.
I work really hard on my projects and while I don't necessarily expect, or even feel like I deserve, any sort of praise for my work, it is definitely nice to hear. Fortunately the group of people that I work with are all (unnaturally) nice and always full of high praise when someone does a good job.
I'm confident that I do good work but it sure doesn't hurt to hear it from my coworkers and managers as well. In actuality, it usually makes me try harder on the next project because I don't want to let them down.
- Lesli, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I don't understand what's so bad about wanting a little reassurance, really.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+2I worked with a bunch like you before.
Spending 8 hours a day fixing the bugs you banged out for 8 hours yesterday, rinse lather repeat, because lacking experience and having the attention span of a gnat means you simply focus on whatever minute thing is right in front of your face right there and forsaking the forest for planting one tree.........
most ***** up workplace ever. - Thyris, on 06/29/2008, -1/+1we may have double the bugs, but we still fix them (and yours) 4x faster
4>2
come up w/ any excuse you want, you just can't take the heat that your slacker generation doesn't have the passion of the moment ours does.- geodebug, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2First of all, prove your claim that you are four times faster. (silence) Should be easy if you "wrote them down" in a defect-tracking system. Oh wait, that is probably too "old-skool" for you.
"we may have double the bugs, but we still fix them (and yours) 4x faster"
You don't seem to understand how silly this sounds. Many bugs are injected into the system while fixing other bugs, especially if you are too speedy to write tests to confirm your fix and run regression tests to make sure you didn't bust something else.
So what you are saying is that you are 4 times faster at creating bugs.
Young passion is great. We need it in software-development. But check your ego at the door and have respect for those who have more experience at building and maintaining working systems. I guarantee that you don't know it all.
- geodebug, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2First of all, prove your claim that you are four times faster. (silence) Should be easy if you "wrote them down" in a defect-tracking system. Oh wait, that is probably too "old-skool" for you.
- johnmearns, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3I'd settle for a 40 hour work week. The standard in IT today seems to be salary and 10 hour+ days. One of my peers was describing the perks of his job as them giving him a cell phone and a laptop. Horray I get to work all the time. At a recent job interview I had the supervisor describe the position to me as "I think of work as coming in for the meetings, then when I get home I can do my work."
- tehjarvis, on 06/28/2008, -1/+1I'd be more than happy to get a cellphone and a laptop with my position...it'd save me some money. Also, going home to work? Awesome. I could spend time with my fiance, get some work done around the house when things are slow and not have to wear any pants.
I also work 10+ hour days, and it's pretty physically demanding work. I signed up for it though, and you'll never hear me complain. I made an agreement to come in when I'm scheduled and do the work I'm supposed to do. I hold my end of the bargain and they pay me what they told me they would so it's all fair. You're complaining too much. IT is a pretty sweet gig, if it wasn't, then there wouldn't be so many Diggers working in that field. I'm considering an IT job myself, all for the reasons you gave. Sounds better than 95% of the alternatives. Quit bitching about striking oil- johnmearns, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3A free laptop and cell phone would save me money too, but of course they aren't truly gratis perks, they're just ways to get you to do more work on your time. How many more hours of work will I do for that $50 phone bill? The implication wasn't come in and kick around the office and then go home, it was you do your 8 hours at the office then when you get home you do more work. It doesn't mean seeing your fiance more, it means having even less time. IT can no doubt be a great satisfying career with really good job opportunities, if it weren't I wouldn't be in it. But there are also a lot of employers that compensate for a 40 hour week and expect much more than that.
Another local place is rather infamous for never hiring from within. They get their guys doing plenty of long weeks and extra time and then those guys find they never get picked to move up the ladder because the employer knows they do the work of more than a single 40 hour a week employee now.
Enjoy the IT career, there's a lot of good employers out there but shop carefully.
- johnmearns, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3A free laptop and cell phone would save me money too, but of course they aren't truly gratis perks, they're just ways to get you to do more work on your time. How many more hours of work will I do for that $50 phone bill? The implication wasn't come in and kick around the office and then go home, it was you do your 8 hours at the office then when you get home you do more work. It doesn't mean seeing your fiance more, it means having even less time. IT can no doubt be a great satisfying career with really good job opportunities, if it weren't I wouldn't be in it. But there are also a lot of employers that compensate for a 40 hour week and expect much more than that.
- tehjarvis, on 06/28/2008, -1/+1I'd be more than happy to get a cellphone and a laptop with my position...it'd save me some money. Also, going home to work? Awesome. I could spend time with my fiance, get some work done around the house when things are slow and not have to wear any pants.
- bradleyland, on 06/28/2008, -7/+10Prediction: Gen Y is in for a rude awakening.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -5/+3Nope - the Baby Boomers will bend over backwards and take it in the ass to make them happy.
- bradleyland, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1Call me crazy, but no body bent over backwards to make my life easier as I entered the working world (also known as the real world).
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -5/+3Nope - the Baby Boomers will bend over backwards and take it in the ass to make them happy.
- Systembomber, on 06/28/2008, -4/+2Who gives a *****?
- wooFmeoWoinK, on 06/28/2008, -7/+2Jesus, we need to stop building nursing homes and just start shooting these worthless boomers and crybaby x-ers into the sun.
- tehjarvis, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3Or we can just wait for the generation of spoiled kids with helicopter parents to receive their rude awakening.
But when they receive it, they'll just blame it on the generations before them.- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+0Best. Response. Ever.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -2/+0Best. Response. Ever.
- lookupandy, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Stereotypes can be fun
- tehjarvis, on 06/28/2008, -2/+3Or we can just wait for the generation of spoiled kids with helicopter parents to receive their rude awakening.
- BalooUrsidae, on 06/28/2008, -3/+2Quit calling us Gen Y and start referring to us as the Echo Boom. Gen Y is demeaning and insulting.
- dopplerdog, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Except wikipedia defines echo boom as those born in the years between '88 and '92, and as a sub-group of gen Y. Not only is 4 years far too short to be culturally significant, but the term properly applies to a short blip in fertility rates. In comparison, boomers and gen xers span 20 years each.
- BalooUrsidae, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I heard of Echo Boomers being everything from the end of Gen X forward long before people started throwing around "Gen Y" or "Millennials." Wikipedia is wrong.
- BalooUrsidae, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2I heard of Echo Boomers being everything from the end of Gen X forward long before people started throwing around "Gen Y" or "Millennials." Wikipedia is wrong.
- praisethelard, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2How about we just start referring to everyone by the year they were born rather than come up with crazy subcategories? Hi, I'm an 87er.
- geodebug, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Echo Boom sounds like a amplified fart in a stadium. Why would you want to be lumped in with any generational label versus being treated as an individual?
- dopplerdog, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2Except wikipedia defines echo boom as those born in the years between '88 and '92, and as a sub-group of gen Y. Not only is 4 years far too short to be culturally significant, but the term properly applies to a short blip in fertility rates. In comparison, boomers and gen xers span 20 years each.
- Ransack, on 06/28/2008, -3/+3Generation "Y"?? Oooh.. you mean Generation A.D.D. aka the Porn Generation.
- SaintStryfe, on 06/28/2008, -0/+4I was born in mid '81, so I'm on the cusp between the very late Gen X'ers and the very early Gen Y's... I hate it. I can be pigeonholed as one of the last slackers of Gen X, or the first whiners of Gen Y, either way by old, incompetent managers who didn't want to hire me in the first place!
- bigtizzle, on 06/28/2008, -2/+1Really hate to contribute little more than blogspam, but I wrote an article on this sort of thing for my school paper that seems pertinent:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog. ...
Apologies to those who think I'm trolling for traffic on my Myspace page... - ttam, on 06/28/2008, -1/+3How dare those lazy Gen Y kids ask for such luxuries like health care, a personal life, and performance based raises!
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2No, what they're asking for is to be raised through the ranks cause they don't wanna do the beginning level work. They expect more cash coming out of school than is typically paid cause, you know, they wanna maintain a lifestyle their parents spoiled them with. And they don't like the idea of having to be at work by a certain time, staying a certain length of time, or doing anything they don't want to do.
- ttam, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1I don't see anything wrong with that if the job gets done. Heaven forbid that for the first time since the big labor union movement do workers actually expect pay relative to the demand of their skill set. And considering we live in a time where the gap between executive and worker's salaries is bigger than ever, I think it's pretty irresponsible to NOT ask for a bigger piece of the pie.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2No, what they're asking for is to be raised through the ranks cause they don't wanna do the beginning level work. They expect more cash coming out of school than is typically paid cause, you know, they wanna maintain a lifestyle their parents spoiled them with. And they don't like the idea of having to be at work by a certain time, staying a certain length of time, or doing anything they don't want to do.
- jeffehobbs, on 06/28/2008, -6/+2Q: How many Millenials does it take to change a lightbulb
A: Doesn't matter: Millenials can't change anything- synik, on 06/28/2008, -1/+2hey old man... your diaper needs changing.
- synik, on 06/28/2008, -1/+6There are reasons GenY expect quick promotions and decent conditions.
Firstly corporations have no loyalty to their staff. They will happily move thousands of jobs to India at the drop of a hat. GenY shows the same amount of loyalty back. Companies are there to be squeezed for as much as I can get. If I can get more pay elsewhere, I'll happy jump ship.
Secondly, the cost of housing (at least in Australia) is waaaay up. To get a crappy 2 bedroom house within 1 hour of the CBD costs $450,000. To stand any chance of affording my own home, I need a decent pay cheque. My parents had it easy... houses were much cheaper compared to income.
Personally, I've had a promotion every year since I entered the work force (I'm 26 now), along with a pay increase of about $10k per year. I'm happy to take advantage of the labor shortage by demanding higher pay. It's not my fault GenX are too stupid to do the same thing.- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -1/+0So you do what we ***** did in your shoes, live with multiple people in the same house.
It sucks, but so does life.
And for the record, Gen X COULD NOT do that when we were your age - there was no labor shortage. There was a JOB shortage.- synik, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2I did ***** do that... I lived in share houses from age 18 to 25. Now I live with my wife.
- BaronSamedi242, on 06/28/2008, -1/+0So you do what we ***** did in your shoes, live with multiple people in the same house.
- spider-man, on 06/28/2008, -2/+1There are several points here that apply universally and not just to one generation. However, this issue...
"professionals entering the workforce should have to spend only one to two years proving themselves in entry-level positions."
Is completely ridiculous. I remember when I thought I should be a pro ball player or an astronaut but that was when I was 8 and since have, as most people with half a brain and some common sense, realize that just because I want something doesn't mean I deserve it and will have to work hard and long to develop the skills it takes and prove myself before I get what I want. But I do believe that a lot of Gen Y'ers have this opinion. I've witnessed it first-hand a few times. To be promoted after year or two of experience except for the most extremely prodigous individuals is just a hilarious expectation. For the typical person it would take a minimum of 3 - 5 years of good performance and this has nothing to do with what generation is involved but what kind of time it takes to develop good skills, demonstrate them consistently, and understand and experience how businesses work under various circumstances. And after this time, don't expect a promotion to a strong leadership position, just to the next stepping stone up.
For companies to realize this expectation would breed a generation of bad clueless managers who will make all others look like patron saints. - bonez56, on 06/28/2008, -2/+18=====
*****'n'balls - redwallhp, on 06/28/2008, -0/+1Freelance.
- , on 06/28/2008, -0/+1In areas where a liquid job-market exists, the cost of living has risen far quicker than salaries and benefits. Every year, insurance premiums are rising, but benefits are being reduced. Housing costs in some formerly working class neighborhoods now cost 10x more. In the 70's and early 80's, most of the 2-3 bedroom homes in my area were around $150k. Now, the cheapest homes here are in excess of $1.2 million. I am bit older, but you better believe I would demand amazing benefits and perks if I were part of Generation-Y or a recent college grad. It takes a lot more to get started these days than when I was in school.
- motters, on 06/28/2008, -0/+3A fairly vacuous article. These points would apply equally well to anyone joining the workforce within the last 30 years.
- cc1263, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Reality kicked me in the teeth with a steel-toed kodiak work boot and left me bloodied and bashed with a trip to the hospital and I'm only 25 so listen for the pop which is the sound all the heads of you collective critics' heads make when you pull them from your anuses. I on the other hand have to go teach myself mandarin chinese because the last few generations dropped the ball and let the nation go down the crapper. Thanks.
- t94xr, on 06/30/2008, -0/+2I love the technology sector, we can tell the old bastards that we run this ***** now! :)
- dodger6, on 06/30/2008, -1/+1I find it hilarious that Gen Y thinks they are going to skip directly past Gen X simply because Boomers are retiring. Guess what kid there is an entire generation pushing that ceiling and have been working their asses off since you were at home watching Teletubbies. The company does not owe you a damn thing other than a paycheck for the work you complete for them. Browsing the web, talking on your cell phone, text messaging should all be done on YOUR time not the company’s time.
Remember you’re second in line not first and just because there is a slot at the top opening up that doesn't mean when you have 50 people in the company that there can be 20 Vice Presidents. Someone has to be doing the grunt work. - darkfus, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1Or in other words: Make work so easy it doesn't feel like work. Expect more jobs to leave the country.
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