Yup, this guy nails it. Companies are now trying to adapt to the "relaxed" workplace demanded by millennials. Some of it is minor, like the dress code and free snacks, even some of the relaxed hours can work as long as you don't have direct customer contact. But you can quote me on this, we will likely see the first non recession annual drop in productivity since WWII within the next few years. The combination of low participation, fewer hours worked, and decreased investment is going to catch up.
The management team at my company had mandatory "diversity training" today.
It was more interesting than I thought it would be. It touched on race, religion, sexual orientation... the usual.... but the majority of the three hours were spent breaking down how each generation is wired, what the differences are, how to bridge say... a Boomer who has to work with a entitled snot nose Millennial, or a Millennial who must put up with the rigidness of a Boomer. (that's not exactly the way they describe it... my interpretation.
) Or, a genXer who really does not care about authority, but is motivated and has loyalty to their co-workers, not the corporation.
The irony that we
can "stereotype" each group of workers based on the birth decade was not lost on me. (At least right now.)
And yet, it is "politically incorrect," for instance, for an airport security checkpoint screener to look with absolute scrutiny at a 20 something, single, young man from a country that is predominately Muslim, traveling on a one way ticket, that they paid cash for. Instead they grope 3 and 4 year olds with body searches, who are all American, scaring the crap out of them... with their mortified family wondering why the government would not use
common sense when looking for those that might cause terrorism to the traveling public.
Yes, profiling is using your common sense... 'cause that is what we discussed today. We were briefed on the life experiences that shaped each of the generations... profiling;
- iGen, Gen Z or Centennials: Born 1996 and later
- Millennials or Gen Y: Born 1977 to 1995
- Generation X: Born 1965 to 1976
- Baby Boomers: Born 1946 to 1964
- Traditionalists or Silent Generation: Born 1945 and before
So everything is about Millennials now. They are the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. Millennials are also the fastest-growing generation of customers in the marketplace, bringing the greatest lifetime value. In addition, Millennials exhibit different attitudes toward employment, sales and marketing, which are challenging many conventional strategies and approaches.
Companies are trying to figure out how to mentor these employees, help managers build bridges between gen Xers and boomers, and how to have job retention for this group.
Basically employers are having to parent or coach this precious spoiled generation to help them grow to their potential. They like to work for a cause and have instant impact or they don't feel connected to the career or employer.
My two children are millennials. I did not raise them with hand outs. They worked for what they earned whether it was grades, cash, or privileges. My kids have always been employed because the companies who hire them quickly find out they are hard workers who are honest and have an excellent work ethic. They each have stayed with employers for years. Many of the resumes I have had to cull through, there is no job history... 3 months one place, 5 months some place else with gaps in between. It is often revealing reading their reason they left each job ... it is often shocking. Can you say insubordination?
HR said he laughs to himself when the first question millennials ask when they are being interviewed is, how much time off they start with? Ah, yeah, after 90 days you become eligible for paid time off.
Balance the checkbook every month, but I do it on Quicken, so not quite as bad as the "Good ol' days". I check and balance the credit cards as well and you'd be surprised how many mismatches I find.
