A good point about Gen Y work patterns

Thanks to my dad for sending me my latest article I want to talk about regarding Gen Y and the work place. Finally an article that doesn't seem to bash Gen Y but tries to shine light on the reasoning behind the "flightiness" in our resumes.

The article talks about one major reason a Gen Y employee would leave a job is because they're not learning anything. And here the other articles are saying the reason we're upset is because we didn't get promoted for showing up on time for six weeks. (HA! Take THAT other articles!!) While I will admit Gen Y does have a very inflated sense of self, that doesn't mean we need to only see the negative aspects of a high self worth.

I will be the first to admit it that I have ADD and if I don't care about something or feel as though someone doesn't care about me, then see ya! Probably a good riddance anyways. My ADD causes me to work really fast on something and be very productive and then SQUIRREL! and I'm off to something else just like that. I don't think anything or anyone is to blame for Gen Y being like this (yes even technology is in the clear for the most part). 



Gen Y is very technology dependent which means we're able to accomplish things differently and more effectively than in the past. What does that mean to the workforce? It means it's changing and it's changing rapidly. Gen Y sees that. Gen Y is responsible for a lot of the technological innovations allowing this to happen. We expect it! Then why is the workplace doesn't seem to embrace it? A lot might do with capital expenses needed to update infrastructures, but a lot of it (at least to me) is a resistance to change. "Well why change it if it's working?" BECAUSE IT COULD BE BETTER!

This also means that Gen Y is able to have so much more information at our fingertips. If we don't know something, we go find it. Google has turned into a verb. "Go Google it". We have access to hundreds of databases telling us what we should be making, where we could be working, who would hire us. Depression? That isn't stopping Gen Y from putting feelers out there to see if something better might come around. We aren't a generation that believes in loyalty as much as the past generations because it could all change in an instant. 

The article talks about how Gen Y leave because they feel they're not going anywhere or learning anything. I like this point of view rather than the typical "they're not getting promoted fast enough so they're throwing a temper tantrum because that's what mommie and daddie trained them to do when life wasn't fair." Please... this article FINALLY makes a good point. I am 100% in agreement with this thought too. I have been working for so many years in school to make sure I learned all I could to get a good grade on an exam, make a good presentation, get the job I wanted post school. Why would all that drive for more knowledge change once I hit the workforce? Why would I suddenly not want to learn anymore? Does that make sense to anyone?

Gen Y doesn't want to be left alone and told "go for it". We want someone to teach us, to mentor us but not to micromanage us (because let's face it, you're old and I'm smarter. I kid!) That's why when I was told my company was bringing in a marketing person who would be  my manager I wasn't pissed. I was thrilled!! I wasn't learning anything beyond how to survive in a department of one and now I'll have someone to teach me and help me grow which is exactly what this Gen Y wants. We don't want to be seen as struggling or stagnant, we want to excel and achieve at high levels. If we don't feel like we have the tools to make this happen, chances are we'll bail and find a place that fills that need.

If you're interested in Gen Y (or even X & Z) I encourage you to read articles and data about it. When you do however, make sure you look at how old the author is. It sure gives you perspective on their views of Gen Y.

Until next time...