OK. So this makes me feel old, but I must complain like a true old person. Oh my gawd, the next gerneraton is going to screw us up. Sound good?
The other evening, Jason was interested in watching the segment on Millennials on 60 minutes. I watched it with him. Up until then, I was not familiar with the term Millenial. Apparently it is the generation behind the Gen-Xers (me). Their birth dates range from approximate 1981-1995. (really only 6 years behind me .. I am a 1975-er).
The whole idea is that they are a coddled generation. Their parents never let them have "life pain". No disappointment. They received trophies for just participating, not winning. There are no losers. These kids did not work during high school, or during college. They move home post college graduation to find the "perfect job"(good luck with that, does it exist). Their parents call their college professors to negotiate their grades, and they are calling their kids employers because they do not agree with their performance appraisals. (WHAT?) Human resource departments are creating protocol on how to deal with these issues. There are conferences being held. I can tell you how to handle it. Tell them to get over it. Really. As a whole they sound pretty terrible,but I know there are exceptions. It must be a pretty big problem if all of this corporate coddling is going on now.
I think it is up to the parents, but society does play a part. Sports now start out with everyone getting a trophy for participating. I got them for WINNING. What is wrong with that?
That is going to create a bunch of whiners. My kids will not be whiners.
They will know that life is painful (one of Jason's biggest parental life teachings), they will know what disappointment is, and they will know what it is to lose.
I am glad my parents raised me with a good head.
I have experienced some Millennial issues at work. People coming in saying they can't work past a certain time, they deserve earlier hours, whine.. whine..whine.. oh my god, I can't work holidays and weekends.
Yeah, dumb ass, you chose to be a RN in a hospital. Get over it. It is a package deal. Do your time like I did. 3.5 years working nights.
But they don't tell them to get over it. They are accommodated.
Thanks HR.
4 comments:
I watched that too. It's scary, and true. I work with several millennials and they do just want to be coddled. They want to be congratulated and recognized for everything they do, no matter how small. They feel if you don't praise them, then you are not a supportive manager.
We interviewed one once and asked what she thought appropriate recognition would be for a job well done... she said if her co-workers gave her balloons and perhaps her boss made her cookies.
I almost died. Millennials are irritating. I know that is strong but they should work harder and quit being so needy.
Sorry..... Shannanb,1976
I had not heard of this term before, but it is soooo true! I'm working with them in the middle school right now. I had a parent come in to complain that I am pulling his son out of gym two days a week (out of 5, mind you!). Do you know why I pull him out? To TUTOR HIM IN SUBJECTS WHERE HE STRUGGLES! He's getting additional education by seeing me, yet he complains to Daddy so Daddy comes and complains to the school. Luckily the counselor told Daddy to go suck an egg. These kids think they are ENTITLED to everything, but don't have to do squat to get it. It blows my mind. Watch out world....we're in for it.
Shannon- I remember the balloon and cookie story. Seriously!
Julie.. great you give us no hope :)
Parents like that should be shot. : )
Maybe companies should start giving older folks a second look when hiring. Instead of just dismissing them as old-school and behind the times, maybe we should welcome their experience and work ethic!
P.S. I am a Gen Xer, so I am not biased on this issue.
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