Millenials: Changing the Rules
Millenials, anyone born between 1980 and 1995, are changing the rules of the workplace. Although the rules appear to be changing, the changes may not be as wide as 60-Minutes would suggest.
Millenials are changing everything. I’m a Millenial because I was born between 1980 and 1995. You might be one too. The video, from 60 Minutes, claims that Millenials are more difficult to deal with because we’ve been coddled and awarded for doing essentially nothing special. Most of us have done, and are nothing special, but our parents and peers will constantly tell us otherwise. Case and point: this is an average blog with average writing that few, probably under 20 people, read. If my family read this they would be impressed but even a professor might say it’s just “okay.”
According to the segment, employers are working around Millenial’s busy schedules and altering their workplaces to make them friendlier and accepting. Managers and executives are actually attending training sessions so they know how to deal with us. Has a majority of my generation really become so spoiled, bratty and apathetic that people need training to deal with us? Apparently so.
This all smells like bullshit to me. After watching the segment I feel like I was born in 1975 and somehow teleported into the future as a baby. I don’t fit in with my own generation because I believe that hard work and highly qualified people get the job done. A boss should still be a boss and be respected as an experienced member of a company (if they actually are experienced and didn’t have the job handed to them). Most of all, I don’t think we should be rewarded for doing our jobs. Rewards should come when expectations are exceeded, not when someone shows up for 8 hours and goes home. My employer, present or future, shouldn’t have to coddle me and ease me into telling me that I’ve made a mistake. Be straight forward and say “hey, you fucked up.” I assure you, I’ll be better for it in the long run and probably won’t make the same mistake again.
I watch TV and read the news daily and everyone has so much hope for my generation. I’d like to agree but I’d be lying. The more I think about it the more I realize we’re all doomed to failure. If companies are going to continue to reward everyone for every little thing they do then doesn’t experience and learning ability get lost along the way? When do we stop handing out the free passes for my generation and start expecting results? I think the shit’s going to hit the fan eventually, and the Millenials are going to be the first ones looking for handouts and someone else to clean up the mess.
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