theTrumpet.com

Gen Y is no better, nor worse than Gen X or the “baby boomer” generation before that. It’s just a different generation, living in a completely different time, under different pressures and circumstances.

Give Gen Y a break! Gen Y have learned to design their own careers and lifestyles. Typically they are highly adaptable and incredibly hard working. Very independent - NOT self-centred. More focused on vocational careers as well as making altruistic contributions to society. Gen Y is the volunteer generation. This is the age of working unpaid for lengths of time before qualifying for payment in your field of work. Competition is higher than ever before for jobs. That takes dedication, tenacity and hard work. Good qualities to pass on to future generations.

I find Gen Y’s to be more authentic in the workplace too. They don’t play the “political games” of older generations because they value contributing more and know that everyone is disposable, not entitled to a job for 30+ years.

A key pressure Gen Y will face is not being able to afford housing in the next five - ten years. The choices for Gen Y will be between starting a family or having adequate housing and employment. That’s something baby boomers and a lot of Gen X wouldn’t have a clue about. …

Amy—Melbourne, Australia

RE: 6/1/09 Ron Fraser article is so sadly correct. This next generation is the most self-assured, self-centered, egotistical and non-commonsensical I have yet to come across. My husband’s two nephews and one niece are three of the most clueless people. Smart? Oh yes, they are all techno-geeks, their cell phones glued to their ears, but any common sense? Hardly! They all act as if their parents will live forever, so they themselves can live out their self-appointed god-hoods in style, all three still living off of mom & dad at home. Volunteer for anything? Not a chance, they are too self-absorbed in “finding themselves” with the latest tattoo style, hair color, or linking up with their friends at any given nanosecond via text-messaging, etc. They are rudely behaved, crude-mouthed, disrespectful, and gratitude is not part of their mentality. They are poised to enter upon the world stage as the best-educated of any generation, with light-years of information technology at their fingertips, with thousands of dollars spent on years in school. For what? I really hope and pray that I am incorrect, however so far, nothing has changed in at least four years with any of them. Unfortunately it will probably take another “Great Depression” for them to actually be forcibly pushed out of their comfy nests and fly in the real world.

Nan—IA/USA

Most Gen Y/Millennial (born 1982-200?) parents are Boomers (born 1943-1960), not Gen X (born 1961-1981). That’s where they get their self-indulgent attitude, but also where they get their heroic spirit. The author (a Boomer or perhaps a Silent born 1924-1942) seems to totally miss the point of this young generation. Yes, they are entitled, but they also have high expectations that they are willing to work for if need be. They also have a spirit of group action that is missing in both the Boomers and X’ers (I am an X’er myself) and that will be important in the crises we are currently facing (and will face in the near future).

My suggestion to Silent and Boomer elders who don’t know how to deal with Gen Y: Get out of the way and let Gen X lead. If you can adapt and help these young people reach their potential, then great, but otherwise the complaining about lost values and narcissism is just more hot air. And we have certainly had enough of that in the last 20 years.

Dave Sohigian—CA/USA

I think your article is right on cue. I do customer service and speak with the “Y Generation” daily. They want it all yesterday and when they don’t do what they’re suppose to do they try to place all the blame elsewhere. No personal responsibility and no manners. When did they stop teaching that class? I plan on sharing your link with my social media followers. Kudos.

Merle—OH/USA

I could not disagree more. I have three Gen Y employees working in my office at the moment. They have sacrificed, worked hard, contributed ideas and been commendable in their skills and attributes.

Too often Gen Y employee are blamed for issues that are really about bad management, often by Gen X, Baby Boomer and Traditionalist managers who would rather blame Gen Y employees than face their own lack of management skills.

This generation, like all generations before it has characteristics that mark it. These characteristics are shaped by the culture in which they were raised and their parents who raised them. The people complaining about Gen Y in the workplace now are the same parents who raised them that way.

Surely we should be focusing on how to bring people together, to find common ground and to be exploring how we can use the great talents of this generation to help us to solve the current world problems instead of bashing them and blaming them?

The Gen Y’s I know care deeply about the world. One just sent me a movie he created all about world peace.

This generation is characterized not only in the US, but around the world. The reach of technology has no bounds and this is part of what is bringing this generation together.

Kari Heistad—USA

Your article is insightful and true. I work in corporate America today and the characteristics that you describe in generation Y are all too present. And I am one of them, fighting it every day because I was taught to be more than this. Thank you for another excellent article.

Kimberly B.—Bentonville, AR

As usual, another very good article. Personally I can’t wait for the return of Jesus Christ to put things back on an even keel.

I really do miss “the good old days.”

Lindon Litchfield—Queensland, Australia

I don’t agree with your article at all. I have managed many Gen Y people and find them to be better than most of the previous employees I have had. In Australia most of them have had to do community service to pass their high school work. My son and daughter have done this. The “older” generation who have been under full employment and have different conditions of employment are lazy and corrupt. I have seen on countless times the “responsible oldies” lying and cheating to get ahead. They demand that the youngsters follow their examples and when they are questioned or a demand is refused they are subject to smears and innuendo. I have seen them develop projects or get new clients and the “oldies” claim them as their own and the Gen Y people get sacked. They are cheaper to get rid of! The time is soon coming here when the companies will collapse because they don’t have the intellectually capable people there anymore.

Peter E.—Adelaide, Australia

While I agree that Gen Y have been “spoiled” by their Gen X parents, it pays to remember that this is mainly because of the emotionless and often absent parenting of the boomers. Gen x’s biggest sin is that they tried to love their children too much, and in so doing have overdone things. I feel your take is way over the top and uncompassionate. …

Paul Rhodes—Auckland/New Zealand

Thank you for the excellent article. My daughter who is fourteen went on a school trip to the Auckland War Museum, and she asked her friend on the way home, if war broke tomorrow would she help as a nurse. The reply was, “I have my whole life ahead of me, why should I help?”

Service and sacrifice are not on the radar screen for most youth today.

Brian Sherwood—New Zealand