"...Deserved or not, this latest generation is being pegged, ...— as one with shockingly high expectations for salary, job flexibility and duties but little willingness to take on grunt work or remain loyal to a company."
"We're seeing an epidemic of people who are having a hard time making the transition to work — kids who had too much success early in life and who've become accustomed to instant gratification."
To that I say, "my ass".
Seeing as this blogger at the very upper edge of that age group, I take offense to that label. Listen, it's not that we feel entitled, it's that we realize life is short and companies are not loyal to their employees. Through our parents, we've seen the rewards for working long hours and busting your butt for a company. They're called heart attacks, ulcers and other stress induced medical conditions. Other non-medical rewards for company loyalty and hard work include offshoring, outsourcing and downsizing.
Naturally we see these things coming and "thanks, but no thanks." Even Pavlov would back us on this one.
But do we still we want the same things you have? Yeah, pretty much. That's part of why it seems like we feel entitled. We don't want to end up like you---we just want to end up with your stuff.
But that's a thought pattern that's shifting.
If you notice, there's a growing movement towards getting rid of debt, living within your means and doing with what you have so that you don't have to bust your ass for things that don't really matter in life. We're realizing that we don't want to be like older generations and that as a result, we're going to have less "corporate success". And we're learning (keyword: learning) to say, "so be it".
Freedomringer(07/26/2006)
I dont think what you are trying to convey is coming across. A living wage is a moral choice. This generation, that generation, this label, that label. Who cares! Generation X was labeled the slacker generation, and there are people in that generation who feel entitled too. The problem with this newest breed of adults is they feel they are special because that is what has been fed to them. This latest generation is a product of the policy of school systems to boost self esteem, but they forgot to mention to the little brats that other people, are just as special and the world, all, 7 billion of us, could care less. Wait and see, the next generation will piss you off too. It is the natural cycle of life. The baby boomer generation used to say, "Don't trust anyone over the age of thirty," and now they are saying the exact opposite, "Don't trust anyone under the age of thirty." And I am not a baby boomer, but I have to say, I sort of agree with them. I am tired of having to pay attention to the newbies, who constantly need some kind of attention or approval. Just do your job to the best of your abilities, be kind to others, and respectful of those who may have a little bit more experience than you. Because some day, you will be the older generation and it should be an honor to pass the torch to those who follow in our paths.
avid reader(07/26/2006)
>The problem with this newest breed of adults is they feel they are special because that is what has been fed to them.< You're the same person who thought mothers in the workplace shouldn't have any special exceptions because they 'chose' to have children. I bet you think that anybody who doesn't keep their nose down and questions things is just out of line and asking for special treatment. I bet you're the ideal employee. Pat yourself on the back.
Freedomringer(07/26/2006)
No I don't. I think it is your moral duty to question things or ideas that don't seem right. I am a big civil rights movement fan, but I also think that we should be responsible for our own decisions and own up to your mistakes. I am not perfect and have made bad decisions and have paid the price for them. I don't blame others, or point at someone else and say it is their fault for the outcome of things. I think people should be responsible for themselves and be given a hand up when they need it. Everyone regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual preference, marital status, having children or not, should be given the same chance in life. I am not invalidating those who choose to have children, but I think that if a women decides to have children it should be her primary responsibility, not a career. Having a child is life term situation. I don't think many women think it over before jumping into the shallow gene pool. I think what angers people the most about me is, I am blunt and I don't dress it up with pretty little axioms to make everyone feel better. I think I question authority more than other little sheep that headed to the slaughter house. Every generation thinks that they are the bomb and that their ideas are novel, but in truth it is all the same just wrapped up in different packaging and sold to the masses.
twiz(07/26/2006)
Times are different these days. You can say it is the same, but the company my father worked for 35 years ago just does not exist in today\'s economy. Most businesses treat employees as a number on a debit sheet. Offshoring, outsourcing, downsizing... American corporations are selling out. You are right, we do have a choice, the choice to not sacrifice our life for some company that has absolutely no loyalty to us. I\'ll work for any company, but only as a contractor working for myself. I don\'t need the benefits or the political bullshit. What else do corporations have to offer?
Seeing as this blogger at the very upper edge of that age group, I take offense to that label. Listen, it's not that we feel entitled, it's that we realize life is short and companies are not loyal to their employees. Through our parents, we've seen the rewards for working long hours and busting your butt for a company. They're called heart attacks, ulcers and other stress induced medical conditions. Other non-medical rewards for company loyalty and hard work include offshoring, outsourcing and downsizing.
If you notice, there's a growing movement towards getting rid of debt, living within your means and doing with what you have so that you don't have to bust your ass for things that don't really matter in life. We're realizing that we don't want to be like older generations and that as a result, we're going to have less "corporate success". And we're learning (keyword: learning) to say, "so be it".
post to digg | 
post to del.icio.us | 
e-mail it
