They're Coming The Millennials are ....Here!
November 14th 2007 18:03
Link: www.tlcorbin.com
Millenials??? What the heck are they?
Per Wikipedia:
and in a survey of 7,705 college students in the US (continued from Wikipedia):
So, why am I concerned about this? Simply this, the age demographic for this group is 18 to 25 year old and is exactly the age group that made up the bulk of my employees. It seems that these folks have an ingrained sense of entitlement, have no idea about the ramifications of personal actions or failure to act, and won't accept personal responsibility for anything. They are bright but seem to lack common sense, and are seemingly devoid of any sense of urgency. The bulk of them have been educated in a system that rewarded mediocrity and valued self esteem above self worth and the ability to compete.
These underlaying attitudes impacted several businesses that I know of intimately, and all three closed their doors. We never thought to study the work paradigm of this new generation and we suffered for it.
I owned a construction company, and closed its doors partly because of the following; I had unscheduled employees show up at various job sites and want to be paid a days wages even though they never worked and weren't supposed to be there. When they didn't get paid for that time, I had to deal with their parents, spouses and significant others haranguing me. The premise is simple: no scheduled work-no pay and no labor on the job-no pay, a concept that escaped all of them, "...yeah, but I was there" was a pat reply. They wouldn't do parts of the work because they didn't feel like it, yikes again, the concept of no work-no pay-no eat-no play ever once came to the surface.
How did all of this contribute to my closing the doors of my business? I couldn't get paid for the work performed by my crews, because they were behind schedule, didn't fully complete things that they didn't feel like doing or fix their mistakes, even when they knew I would pay them for doing exactly that. They were content to draw welfare or unemployment to avoid performing as requested and expected.
Anyway, I am still studying the situation, because I need to understand this group and how to motivate them, and how to explain the mechanics of business and economics to them. Little things, for example: As a country, we need to produce something so that the peripheral non producers can provide support services, and we collectively generate incomes and profits that can be taxed to provide the social services with sufficient funds for them to draw their welfare or unemployment benefits.
From a pessimistic viewpoint; when everyone winds up sucking a public teat at some future date, the whole system implodes and we as a nation wind up on the streets begging handouts from our foreign neighbors, who don't really like us. Anecdotal wisdom suggests that businessmen everywhere had better learn to deal with the Millennials and quickly or close their doors now and save their investment capitol for early retirement.
So, is there a solution?
Raven is asking
Per Wikipedia:
Members of Generation Y(millennials) were found to be "demanding, impatient and bad at communicating" by a 2007 survey of business owners in Australia. The survey found that almost 70% of those surveyed found their Generation Y workers to be dissatisfying, with poor spelling and grammar and no understanding of appropriate corporate behaviors. However, the survey also showed most employers praised the energy and charisma of their Generation Y workers.
and in a survey of 7,705 college students in the US (continued from Wikipedia):
* 97% own a computer
* 94% own a cell phone
* 76% use Instant Messaging.
* 15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week
* 34% use websites as their primary source of news
* 28% own a blog and 44% read blogs
* 49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing
* 75% of students have a Myspace or social networking account
* 60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod.
* 94% own a cell phone
* 76% use Instant Messaging.
* 15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week
* 34% use websites as their primary source of news
* 28% own a blog and 44% read blogs
* 49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing
* 75% of students have a Myspace or social networking account
* 60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod.
So, why am I concerned about this? Simply this, the age demographic for this group is 18 to 25 year old and is exactly the age group that made up the bulk of my employees. It seems that these folks have an ingrained sense of entitlement, have no idea about the ramifications of personal actions or failure to act, and won't accept personal responsibility for anything. They are bright but seem to lack common sense, and are seemingly devoid of any sense of urgency. The bulk of them have been educated in a system that rewarded mediocrity and valued self esteem above self worth and the ability to compete.
These underlaying attitudes impacted several businesses that I know of intimately, and all three closed their doors. We never thought to study the work paradigm of this new generation and we suffered for it.
I owned a construction company, and closed its doors partly because of the following; I had unscheduled employees show up at various job sites and want to be paid a days wages even though they never worked and weren't supposed to be there. When they didn't get paid for that time, I had to deal with their parents, spouses and significant others haranguing me. The premise is simple: no scheduled work-no pay and no labor on the job-no pay, a concept that escaped all of them, "...yeah, but I was there" was a pat reply. They wouldn't do parts of the work because they didn't feel like it, yikes again, the concept of no work-no pay-no eat-no play ever once came to the surface.
How did all of this contribute to my closing the doors of my business? I couldn't get paid for the work performed by my crews, because they were behind schedule, didn't fully complete things that they didn't feel like doing or fix their mistakes, even when they knew I would pay them for doing exactly that. They were content to draw welfare or unemployment to avoid performing as requested and expected.
Anyway, I am still studying the situation, because I need to understand this group and how to motivate them, and how to explain the mechanics of business and economics to them. Little things, for example: As a country, we need to produce something so that the peripheral non producers can provide support services, and we collectively generate incomes and profits that can be taxed to provide the social services with sufficient funds for them to draw their welfare or unemployment benefits.
From a pessimistic viewpoint; when everyone winds up sucking a public teat at some future date, the whole system implodes and we as a nation wind up on the streets begging handouts from our foreign neighbors, who don't really like us. Anecdotal wisdom suggests that businessmen everywhere had better learn to deal with the Millennials and quickly or close their doors now and save their investment capitol for early retirement.
So, is there a solution?
Raven is asking
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
That's what we need to cultivate in the young. And discipline and self discipline is required, not I want therefore I must have. Sex, alcohol and drugs included.
Shudder, shudder, shudder and thank God I'm an old wowser and proud to be.
Methinks you were a little too trusting Raven.
Don't bother with the young, they think they deserve it and while we keep indulging those ideas they will see no reason for change.
Tough, that's me.
Comment by Techno
Geeky Blog
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Now that I have a clearer understanding, I will handle these folks differently: I have been know to be a hard case when the occasion and necessity rears its ugly head.
However, I dislike my disconnect from civility when that occurs. But that mindset is preferable to bankruptcy.
Techno
Would he like a job in Alaska?
Thank you both for your comments.
Raven
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I'm dim witted and I lack common sense so I guess I'm exempt from this group
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I was just a tiny bit too old to be in this group - mores the pity. Would have suited me nicely.
Kman and I just scraped through into the 'X' generation which, despite having a bit more freedom than our parents, still thrives on hard work and self sacrifice. I think our greates creation was not having to stay in one job for 20 years to make enough money to retire. But something we passed on to 'Y' is self esteem.....A self esteem so great that they dont think they have to do anything save express themselves. Thats their only crime - failure to define self with a variety of modern mediums.
I shudder to think of their children taking control of the world. Perhaps there'll be enough 'late families' from the 'X'ers(who favour late familys) to stop a cataclysm...
But Im so fascinated that the attitude of the generation is exactly the same as it is here - hemisphere not withstanding!
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
Coffee Quip
Very insightful and forthright.
The world is certainly smaller with the advent of the internet. Some things and issues appear to be a bit more globally common than I ever perceived them to be.
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I find it fascinating that the Ys you have encountered are the same as the ones I have. I should be proud really, like a mom, cos I taught this philosphy to those younger than me. 'Break free - our generation hates the way the world is!" Perhaps we can move on to a global change where we work to our own cicadian rhythyms? Now that would be something.
I was one of the first Gothics. We had punks too, now its all rolled into this new 'Emo' thing.
And yes, if you know them, you know the only crime worth punishing yourself for is the failure to define self in the range of new mediums.
The scariest thing? I never thought Id get this bloody old!
Great chatting to ya Raven!
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Comment by Krystal
feelings
Sorry I've been so slow, I think I must be in the generation Y lot.
Crystal
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
And how come they started the generation lettering so late in the alphabet? Is this symptomatic of their self obsession, that there will be no other generation beyond "Z" worthy of a letter to distinguish them?
Raven, looking at your employee problems, it sounds like you didn't learn a golden employment rule, only employ those desperate to work and please their employer.
But, maybe you were too soft hearted, by giving the youngsters a go, or, maybe there just isn't enough folks around your neck of the woods for a better choice?
Whatever the reasons, I also see that the abandonment of proper education, that being teaching the kids to spell and add up etc, seems to be common across our nations, at least at the public/government school level.
Britain too, I hear, has allowed the poor and lower working classes there to become ignorant. Why is this so?
Me smells a government/corporate conspiracy there...
Keep the populace stupid and they might not discover and/or question what the government and corporate world is really up to..
cheers
fog
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
have you ever thought about advertising overseas? maybe with promises of seeing the wilds of Alaska, getting your own 'pet' polar bear, learn how to build your own igloo, while earning a modest amount of money in the process!
THE POLAR EXPRESS WORKING HOLIDAY!!!
cheers
fog
P.S. No fee for the advice, and you can have the advertising banner for free!
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
But life aint bad. Im about to start my litre vodka cruiser, and I got a few days off!
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
Coffee Quip
Seriously, it keeps me occupied on a full time basis.
Oh, the banner offer is really tempting.
Kleo ah, life is truly good when viewed through the bottom end of a vodka bottle, and lord knows you can use the rest.
Raven thanks you for the visit.
Comment by MaaUpma
Indus Guru
Vastu - The Indian Science of Dwelling
EGurumantra - Demystifying India
I guess the problem is not confined to just US or Australia but is also there in countries like India and China. I recently read an article which said that because of nuclear families and single child policy in China, young couples are not able to bear each others habit and are approaching the courts for divorce on small, frivilous issues.
You can imagine how much will they tolerate their co-workers and superiors who are not in relationship with them.
Another trend that I observe is that these Generation Y people are very aware of their rights and less about their duties. They will fight tooth and nail about their rights without introspecting on where they have faltered in a situation.
I am sure in Australia the problem is more complex as it has a very strong social security setup. However, as their population increase I am not sure how well the system will take care of them in future.
I think, the concept that rights and duties go hand in hand is not properly internalized by this generation. Somehow we the earlier generation are responsible for the same.
Ma Upma
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
You fully appreciate the situation.
In fairness, I'll add this comment; I have found that particular group to be very creative and conditionally productive when it suits them.
So, learning to motivate and encourage them without resorting to the futility of violence has been an quest of mine.
Trying to intimidate or brow beat them into doing anything is counter productive, because it simply doesn't work; when you leave after anything remotely confrontational, they'll pass you going out the door.
Raven
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
This is such an interesting read and I can fully see your point and agnst.
I am not sure which generation I am in, as I have grown up alone since turning 15, old stock from the generation that still values hard work for the pleasure and reward of the work itself. Something instilled in me since childhood by hard working parents who survived prison camps and war torn cities of Europe during the 40's.
I'm not being obtuse here, but I wanted to say a word in defence of this Y generation, because I think it would be so hard to grow up in a world of twisted values through the Great Consumerist Paradigm, lying media and as Maa says… divorce for the sake of it (almost because it’s trendy?) *gag* .. To have spent your afternoons in front of the TV instead of a human babysitter, or worse grown up in childcare instead of on Grandma’s farm… filled with The Simpsons, Sex in the City and Desperate housewife TV dinner values. Constantly living under the Damocles sword of nuclear war, global annihilation, global warming and global cooling; all from the excesses and 80,000 insecticides and food additives of a wasteful, un-mindful X generation ... well, things are just not so solid anymore are they ...*scratching head* ... and who can remember the rules?
I actually feel sorry for them, I really do.
*lol* I went and finished my Masters recently at University late in life (early 40's) and I can always remember my professor turning to me (in confidence and sheer frustration) and saying...'It’s like herding cats!.'
I am still laughing at that comment today.
Lilla ...
Comment by tlcorbin
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