Are You at War With Generation Y?
Last week, Sean Silverthorne's post "Gen X Is Unhappy at Work" got more hits than any blog post in BNET history. Clearly, the subject hit a nerve. Based on reader comments, one of the things that chaps Xers' hides the most is their younger coworkers: the millennials, or Generation Y.
swilson927 wrote:
Generation Y is working hard at becoming the most self-absorbed demographic ever. Between blogs, facebook, myspace, and text messaging, there's very little time to do actual work.aklimack wrote:
I have just been asked by my manager to "mentor" a Gen Y co-worker.... I feel she definitely was given a job she was unprepared for and didn't really even want and I am expected to pick up the slack.True, some millennials possess an exasperating sense of entitlement. But here's the bright side: their demands can actually change your company for the better. Employers like Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, and even the U.S. Army have already found that millennials' high expectations -- flex time, mentorship, transparency -- are values that improve work, and life, for all employees.
Those are just three examples of how millennials are changing the workplace. You'll find tons more in our feature package Managing Millennials: a BNET Survival Guide. Take a look and see if millennials have anything to teach your company. Or, if you just feel like kvetching about them, check out our Field Guide to Workforce Millennials.