Generation Gap

Recently the Edmonton Journal had an article about the Linkster Generation.  It seems about every 5 years or so now we have a new name for a "generation".  This generation is all the kids born after 1995.  I have read with interest many of the generalities of various generations.  You definitely see differences, however there are always exceptions to the rule.  Having said that though, I do find myself and some of my colleagues saying..these kids now adays!  (we sound like old geezers). 

Some of it is age, but much of it is how people are raised or not raised.  As a Manager, I end up dealing with a lot of human resources related issues and it's not always fun.  Now when I say this, I am not talking about the many great people I work with, I am talking about the few that are like spoiled kids and seem to think that negative attention is better than none at all.

When I work with a 30 year old, call me crazy, but I expect this person's parents to have done their basic training.  I am more than happy to spend time mentoring or showing the ropes at work.  I am also happy to talk about your career aspirations and training goals.  However, if I wanted to talk to you repeatedly about being nice to others and not being a douche, I would have had kids of my own.  Because then I would love them and be dealing with this when they are children.   I expect parents to teach their children manners.  I expect parents to teach their children kindness and responsibility.  I expect parents to teach their children not to be narcissistic and to play well with others.

I often feel that this is slipping by the wayside.  If I had a dollar for the people that think they should get paid 80k a year to surf facebook and shop for wedding dresses online I would be rich.  If I had a dollar for the people i see with expensive University degrees that obviously haven't taught them a damn thing, I would be rich.  If I had a dollar for the number of people I see that expect something for nothing, I wold be rich.

So now I read that with future generations, I will likely also have to talk with these employees parents.  Why, because many people are being raised with no life skills.  No ability to solve their own problems, no ability to cope with anything.   No need to work for anything because they have it all.  I think this is really sad. 


One paragraph that stood out for me in this article.

"They're young and probably didn't get the same upbringing that boomers got from their traditional parents about the social etiquette of life," says Larry, recalling one client -- the owner of an amusement park -- who had to tell a Linkster employee not to spit in front of customers.
Dealing with Linkster parents requires a more diplomatic strategy. The Johnsons advise employers to simply accept the inevitability of parental involvement.

So times they are a changing.  It will be interesting to see what the workplace will be like years from now, heck it might be a much better place.  But I am hoping I am gone long before I need to have a conversation with some 25 year olds mommy : )