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The real problem with Gen Y

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sinner

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http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-an...e-real-problem-with-gen-y-20130628-2p0z8.html

An interesting article which I hope will provoke some interesting discussion

The fundamental error here is to mistake the adaptive behaviours of a new generation for the cause behind labour market changes.
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In response to this particular segment:
The casualisation rate across the Australian workforce currently runs at around 25 per cent, a fair leap from 18.9 per cent in 1988. Actually, 40 per cent of the work force is termed ‘non permanent’ by the ABS, including contractors and freelancers, many of which if they aren’t called ‘casuals’ might as well be.
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a friend of mine (successful multiple business owner, mid 40s) has responded:

I think it is even worse than that. While the ABS might be able to pick up casualisation, it does not pick up on short permanent positions. Many of the jobs that used to be 'whole career' or 'lifetime' jobs are now re-advertised annually or based on a small number of years. They are measured by superficial productivity parameters that do not take into account depth of workplace knowledge or social cohesion in the workplace. Even the public service no longer provides that security.
Instant productivity and growth assessments are achieving exactly the opposite.
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Yep I read this yesterday and thought it was interesting too.

A lot of my friends who I went to uni with are on contracts, or in shorter term roles. As a generation we were encouraged to go to uni to get a good, stable job, but those jobs are few and far between, and it is extremely difficult to settle down when you only have contract or casual employment.

This could almost tie in in parts with Julias recent homeless thread. Increasing casualization of a workforce makes it harder to pay and budget the fixed costs of living
 
I'm starting to winder if we've tipped past the point where the economy is meant to serve us as an efficient way to meet our needs and some of our infinite wants, or if it is now we that serve the economy for...I'm not really sure.

Not sure how me try to move back to giving those who want a full time job one, and leaving the flexibility there for those who can't / don't want a full time position.

Wont here any of our politicians talking about this issue because there's too many vested interested within the unions and businesses.
 
As usual me me me me. :D

You cannot have a job without a business offering you one. They are much likelier to do that if they have flexibility. And there's more likely to be more jobs with a strong business/economy - which also requires flexibility.
 
Trembling Hand said:
As usual me me me me. :D

You cannot have a job without a business offering you one. They are much likelier to do that if they have flexibility. And there's more likely to be more jobs with a strong business/economy - which also requires flexibility.
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Couldn't agree more. After employing several Y gens and their constants demands, I gave up and have outsourced the work overseas. Sad really, but at the end of the day, I need to be profitable and not turning up until 9.30 just doesn't cut it, their self belief that they are worth more than the boss is incredible. An old brick layer once said to me " if your not making your boss money then you don't have a job". Simple analogy, but the Y gen need to learn it. Maybe living through a recession might help. Now employ 5 people for the cost of one Australian and they don't complain, work overtime, work weekends, just happy to have a job. Cut me down, say what you want, welcome to the new world order but I will remain profitable.

Cheers
 
Trembling Hand said:
And there's more likely to be more jobs with a strong business/economy - which also requires flexibility.
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How did the economy survive and grow 30 - 50 years ago without as much flexibility when couples were able to live one one full time wage earner?
 
prawn_86 said:
How did the economy survive and grow 30 - 50 years ago without as much flexibility when couples were able to live one one full time wage earner?
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No global competition.
Not as much need for productivity due to a huge spurt in middle class numbers (demographics).
 
prawn_86 said:
How did the economy survive and grow 30 - 50 years ago without as much flexibility when couples were able to live one one full time wage earner?
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No GST
No Big Government that takes from everybody and gives to consultants and spin doctors
No gizmos and must-have gadgets that waste money and time to "stay in touch"
Not as much competition for living space
No credit cards
The general attitude was "I would like ... that costs ... so I save until I can afford to buy ... or compromise and settle for ... that costs so much less, so I can afford it now."
And more pride in one's work and achievement without the sense of entitlement to "have it all NOW!".
 
pixel said:
No GST
No Big Government that takes from everybody and gives to consultants and spin doctors
No gizmos and must-have gadgets that waste money and time to "stay in touch"
Not as much competition for living space
No credit cards
The general attitude was "I would like ... that costs ... so I save until I can afford to buy ... or compromise and settle for ... that costs so much less, so I can afford it now."
And more pride in one's work and achievement without the sense of entitlement to "have it all NOW!".
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No red tape and low employee costs (workers comp, super, training)
 
prawn_86 said:
How did the economy survive and grow 30 - 50 years ago without as much flexibility when couples were able to live one one full time wage earner?
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Companies also had better margins. Had a permanent job (unlike today when no job is permanent...). Houses were smaller, land was cheaper, credit was hard to come by & the household had less possessions. Govt spending wasn't as high in some sectors - didn't have expensive scanning machinery available for purchase, as an example. Travel overseas? That was a once in a lifetime thing, not a repeatable exercise.

Over the 30 yrs of work in a number of organisations of varying size I see a shift in workers of all ages in terms of attitude. I put some of this down to the far more transactional relationship in larger organisations, replacing the "work stupid hours" mentality that many, including me, had. Add in the uncertainty of employment & no wonder it's getting harder to get the same loyalty & pride that existed.

Do you/we really think that the Baby Boomers who were young filled the previous generations with confidence? I think Gen Y are willing to work hard etc but aren't willing to wait years for reward because "work hard for years for someone else and prosper" is pretty much dead. They have higher expectations at an earlier point in life & aren't going to wait around for it.

Gen Y are a product of their environment. An environment created by Baby Boomers & Gen X.
 
The real problem with some Gen Y (girls in particular) is that they are liars. "Sorry I'm late for work - there's an accident holding up traffic" not thinking for a second that I might listen to the traffic report on the radio, or check online. I'm not the boss, but the boss certainly gets to hear about it because it's disruptive.
 
Interesting anecdotal evidence today.

A friend of mine had a months worth of leave coming up, she informed her employer about 4 months ago, but they never officially approved it. Yesterday they told her she could no longer take it as someone else had leave booked at the time. She suggested they hire a temp for that month but the employer wouldn't budge, so she quit and they have to pay out her leave anyway.

They said they were really disappointed that she was leaving and that she is a great worker (which she is), yet even in her exit interview they refused to offer her the leave. Just shows how inflexible to demands employers can be, as she has worked for 18 months without taking any leave. Also shows how employers fail to build trust and respect with their younger employees
 
prawn_86 said:
Interesting anecdotal evidence today.

A friend of mine had a months worth of leave coming up, she informed her employer about 4 months ago, but they never officially approved it. Yesterday they told her she could no longer take it as someone else had leave booked at the time. She suggested they hire a temp for that month but the employer wouldn't budge, so she quit and they have to pay out her leave anyway.

They said they were really disappointed that she was leaving and that she is a great worker (which she is), yet even in her exit interview they refused to offer her the leave. Just shows how inflexible to demands employers can be, as she has worked for 18 months without taking any leave. Also shows how employers fail to build trust and respect with their younger employees
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I'd be right behind her if an employer did that to me. Fortunately every boss I've had always say I'm the only employee they don't have to hound to take leave. If I can't get away from work at least every 6 months I start to go loony.

I remember way way back in the mid 90s working for a company. Pretty stressful job, but had a great group of people and pretty decent management. One time on a weekend had to work 15 hours because some idiot contractor at Syd airport had cut the major telecom cable while they were doing renovations in preparation for the 2000 Olympics. What impressed me was the big boss came in and the first thing he said to me and the girl on shift was "have you had breakfast? Can I go get you something?" We'd both brought our breakfast in, but he still went out and got us some coffee and muffin then said if anyone gives you grief put them through to me. He stayed in the office for a good 10 hours, and when someone got a bit too shirty with us we'd pass them on to him and generally not hear from them again.

Things went downhill not long after that. New big boss and to in his cost cutting zeal he decided to cut the monthly birthday cake. All the good will and getting different groups int he same room talking to each other was gone, all to save $20 a month. Then the inflexibility about pay crept in. A year later I'd left, got a new job paying $10K extra a year, and within 3 months of my exit another 5 or 6 staff had left too. The company lost probably around a million $ in lost productivity and training costs simply due to management who cared nothing about the staff. What had been a give and take relationship and turned into a constant take by management.

The best thing to come out of it was I'd been marked a trouble maker and told to not come in for the month after resigning - they'd pay me out. Made my new boss terribly happy to have me starting a couple of weeks earlier, and I had a well deserved week on the beach in phuket.

My current and previous jobs I've really had no loyalty to management. I do a good job, do what is required, but wont go that extra mile any more, because at the end of the day I don't get anything for it. I can get emails from customers thanking management about me, because I do provide top notch customer support, but when I know I get the same pay rise as the least productive member of the group, I ask myself what's the point?

So I think managers only have themselves to blame if they find their workers to be less than enthused at work, or when the good staff up and go because they're not rewarded. Show some loyalty to staff, provide some flexibility and you will see the productivity gains. Humans are living and breathing sentient beings, not resources to be sweated for the greatest amount of profit.

I used to run a thai takeaway shop with a friend. We treated the staff quite well. Before opening they'd cook dinner and eat with my friend, and after closing they generally cook up a big wok of something and the staff could take it home. Minimal cost, but they appreciated it because they were students and struggling with Sydney's cost of living. We never had an issue with staff, always turning up on time, and they'd work out amongst themselves shift swaps. We basically said as long as the right number of staff is here we don't care who it is. They were quite shocked with that as other places they'd worked, heard about were not as flexible. We never had a problem in getting new staff as people moved back home. If anything we always had people wanting to work for us because we treated them well and paid award wages.
 
+1 for sydboys post, I feel like you get it, as a lot of the things you said mesh with my own experience.

I haven't replied before today because a lot of the comments have left me speechless.
 
sinner said:
I haven't replied before today because a lot of the comments have left me speechless.
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There is nothing "wrong" with Gen Y's work ethic or application. There is just as many dumb, useless, lazy, cheating no hopers as any other generation before them. At the same time there is also many many smart switched on and very driven people within that group - possibly more due to the wealth of information one can take in before you even have any life experiences. Something that is quite unique.

Where this doesn't work in their favour, at least in old gens eyes/minds, is that that awakening of opportunity that previous gens didn't have leaves the older gens miffed at their ambition and sometimes attitude of entitlement without actually doing the miles. Just knowing what is available doesn't change the fact that its still as hard as every to achieve great things, career wise as well as happy/successful life.
 
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