Are You at War With Generation Y?

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  1

  Hughparkes

  05/21/08 | Report as spam

  Boomers "X" and "Y"

  As a Boomer I have felt threatened by the next generation "X" because they want my position. I am not threatened by a "Y" generation as they want the position held by "X". I am willing to help a Y generation person as they do not threaten me, appreciate my experiance and know I can help them. This is not true of the ""X" generation as they think we are outdated and beyond our usefullness. This jungle mentality will carry on for many more years to come.

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  2

  Sweet Sensi

  05/21/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Are You At War With Generation Y

  There are so many things being said about ???Generation Y??? that are in most cases not good. We are perceived to be a group of people who don???t deserve to hold the positions we have in the work place or, as a group of underachievers who are satisfied with failure but expect the world to credit us. I AM NOT THE TYPICAL GENERATION Y AND I REFUSE TO BE CONSIDERED AS SUCH. Sadly, there are individuals who do fit the description and they are making it bad for the people whose sole endeavor is for great success. At the same time, these types of people are found at ALL age ranges from 4yrs old to 100yr old, so why now is the finger being pointed at us? I believe the problem is NOT that we are troubled or ???spoiled???; the problem is that Generation X is afraid of change and is outraged that their higher-ups are the same ages as their children. Therefore, they are discontent and disgusted with having to take direction from us. They are insulted and feel dishonored or snubbed in the corporate world, in which case I suggest Generation X attend some self-worth motivation seminars. The truth is, as the world turns from day to day, it changes. The corporate world needs people who are NOT comfortable with customs and stagnated by habitual practices. We are ???slackers??? because we are BORED with you Generation X managers that religiously help your company not to grow by leaps and bounds because they are only interested in doing what they've been doing (and THAT'S IT). We are blogging, and checking myspace or facebook not only because we are naturally synchronized with technology (and YOU aren't doing anything to utilize or cultivate our skills in the workplace) but also because the jobs you give us are below our qualifications so we finish our daily tasks at noon. Generation X is just a mob of angry people who are upset that we, the Generation Y are ambitious enough to actually do and go after the things they have only dream of. That is why Generation X is unhappy. Are you really at war with US? Are WE the root of YOUR problem? As you all in Generation X have taught us "...if you can't beat them, join them".

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  sbrennaman354

  05/22/08 | Report as spam

  I am not at War with GY.

  Sweet Sensi seems to have hit the nail squarely on the head. I am a true boomer born between 1946 and 1957. The other half of the Boomers have different philosophies from my half for a variety of reasons not the smallest of which our parents actually fought WW II. The second half boomers (statistically) have a mix of parents that did not serve in WW II and did not cognitively live the depression. Having said this I think it is important to take a look at the parents of Gen Yer?s. My wife and I had a child later in life (35 yrs old) and he is thus a Gen Y'er. Smart, hart working when he does but he has learned lessons well that hard work may not be the end all for success. While he is still in college he has not seen the real work force as yet but he understands that if you are paid to do a job do it (he worked before going to college). He also knows that nothing will be handed to him. Does he know what he wants in life? Not yet. Will he work for it when he does? Yes because he wants to keep it when he gets it. The Gen x generation is smaller than boomers and Gen Y generations. Boomers are working longer and Gen x'ers may not get the promotions and position they "think" they deserve because they are at war with the Boomer replacements: Gen y'ers. Gen X?ers need to focus on their skills and attributes and less o being at war with the Boomer replacements.

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  4

  ldwatson

  05/22/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Are You at War With Generation Y?

  As a Gen Xer, I do not feel that I am at war with Gen Yers. If anything, I feel that we share quite a few commonalities. For example, we tend to understand and appreciate technology. Whereas many Boomers and Traditionals struggle with technology.
  My struggles at work come from dealing with Traditionals and Boomers who do not value work/life balance and who do not understand/appreciate technology.

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  Sweet Sensi

  05/22/08 | Report as spam

  For The X'er Who Is NOT At War With The Y's

  YOU are an X-er that I would LOVE to work with. lol. We all Boomers, X-ers and Y's, should get to together and see what we could learn from each other to make an even more powerful corporate America. Other countries value EVERY opinion and idea no matter how small or insignificant it may seem and are growing at a rapid pace while we, are declining in many areas. Each person has something to contribute to make a successful business survive and are equally important like every single part of a body. Many companies big and small neglect the little things that keep their businesses alive so, they begin to break down little by little, employee by employee and division by division. They forget about incentives and suggestion boxes, the little things. The Boomer with all of their experience, may know the best way for the X's and Y's to get along. The Y may know the best most productive way to complete the assignment. The X would probably be best at knowing how to get your business a higher profit without discouraging your consumer. And we all need to understand that when the day is over, IT'S OVER!!! (The last thing you want is an unhappy worker. A person being overworked, is UNHAPPY!) Yes, common ground my happy place.

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  Prakaithip

  08/20/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Are You at War With Generation Y?

  Gen Y needs to respect experienced Gen X, otherwise there will be no harmony in the workplace.