Business Insight Zone

The term ‘millennial’ arose because pundits became aware that the current naming scheme for generations would soon take them into Dr. Seuss’ ‘On Beyond Zebra.’ Which would have been cool.

Anytime there is a new name people treat it like a new phenomenon, and that is what’s happening here.

I’m a lot closer in age to Morely Safer than the generation he profiled but I strongly disagree with his perception of the Millennial generation. When I see my Millennial son working on a paper until 11:00 p.m. and then see him get up early for a 6:45 a.m. practice at school, I have a problem with the idea that this generation isn’t motivated and won’t work. These people have figured out how to do it faster, better, and yes, easier than Boomers. It’s time for us to get over it and applaud the creativity and innovation that the new generation is bringing to the workplace.

Good heavens! These kids want to live a life of luxury without sacrifice. I mean real sacrifice, where working for your own money affords your lifestyle, and being a lifetime student on your parents’ dime is not an option. These kids are a bunch a thumb suckers who are afraid to leave home. They want to take time to find themselves while others are working hard to pay for their freedom to do so. Are they sweet? Yes. Are they good kids who follow the rules? Yes. Are they working hard at school? Yes, but they are in a state of arrested development! These achievements are praiseworthy when they are 18, but at twenty five it doesn’t cut the mustard. They are afraid of their own company, living life with someone’s voice in their ear 24/7. My advice to this generation: Get a job, get some bills with your name on them, get a life. Your parents need some time alone, that means without you.

We hire a lot of milenials at the place where I work. In fact, we virtually always hire people who are straight out of college.

Many of them quit by not showing up or by making up some story about a ‘family emergency” or dire medical condition. On the other hand, it is a very tough sales job involving cold-calling, low pay and long hours. So I don’t blame them for quitting, but I wish they would be a bit mroe grown-up about it!

There are some people who stick it out and stay for a long time though.

We also have some interns, some of whom seem awfully entitled. I knwo mnay internships are unpaid. These interns are getting paid, and you would think they would feel very fortunate. Yet one of them was aksing why he didn’t get holiday pay! And so was his manager, also a milennial. She thought I should have told them they wouldn’t be getting holiday pay. It never occurred to me to do so because it never occurred to me that anyone would expect it as an intern! Talk about entitled.

her explanation was that “It’ss their introduction to the workplace and they don’t know any better”. Their introduciton to the workplace? At age 21???