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Gen Y in the workforce

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:50:00 -0500

Why companies are losing billions in turnover to the demanding millennials in their workforce.

Aaron Stiner

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:25:18 -0500

At first I was going to share this on Facebook but then decided that it was just another boomer talking about stereotypes of "velcro children", "hover parents" and foosball and tv's in the workplace. The interview focused about 10% on what Gen Nexters can bring to the workplace and about 90% on silly stereotypes.

Gen Nexters are adept at multi-tasking, great at working in teams, like work that is inline with their values, like fairness and worklife balance. They want to work collaboratively within their organizations, including with their managers and they want to collaborate with other organizations. They have innovative ideas and aren't afraid to try something even if they fail.

Next time, bring on an informed, professional Gen Nexter as part of the conversation please.

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:53:06 -0500

You can't expect a generation that has watched wave after wave of layoffs and endless cycles of downsizings to feel much commitment to such a process.

David Miller

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:46:49 -0500

I was born in 1983 and continue to resent my generation being called lazy. The obsession with video games and endless TV watching isn't our fault. We didn't built Nintendos, we didn't create cartoons or sugary cereals, we didn't choose to build crappy schools. If the older generation isn't happy with us, it's their own fault.

late mom

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:44:41 -0500

Thank You David Miller! You've said it exactly how I thought it... and I'm not even of the same generation, but I agree with 100%.

Patrick Walker

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:02:02 -0500

Ok. I am an Xer, but even this reeks with negative bias toward Y. I usually cut down the trophy kids, but you have to understand them "from their point of view". Nap pods? Foosball? Unlike X, the macro-manage only (and I strictly mean only), Y must be micromanaged (can not believe I am promoting micromanagement and for that taking up for Y). They have had their whole life planed out from them under micromanaged supervision of their Boomer parents (got a stab at those ideological hippies at least!). Regardless of bias, you must talk to them to begin with about goals to advancement. Leave out your nap pods, foosball, and cutting your own neck by helping them leave by actually work a "practical" solution (see X for that) to managing a generation, regardless how pampered they are.