The worst generation? You’ve heard the whining, now studies back it up: Gen Y workers are the pits
By BRIAN MOORE
Last Updated: 9:53 AM, May 10, 2010
Posted: 12:59 AM, May 10, 2010
Gen Y workers get a bad rap in the workplace, with many a geezer complaining that their work ethic is less developed than their sense of entitlement. But is that really fair?
Yes, according to new research that’s yielded actual data to back up that notion.
In a series of studies using surveys that measure psychological entitlement and narcissism, University of New Hampshire management professor Paul Harvey found that Gen Y respondents scored 25 percent higher than respondents ages 40 to 60 and a whopping 50 percent higher than those over 61.
In addition, Gen Y’s were twice as likely to rank in the top 20 percent in their level of entitlement — the “highly entitled range” — as someone between 40 and 60, and four times more likely than a golden-ager.
Harvey’s conclusion? As a group, he says, Gen Yers are characterized by a “very inflated sense of self” that leads to “unrealistic expectations” and, ultimately, “chronic disappointment.”
And if you think the Gen Yers in your workplace are oversensitive as well as entitled, Harvey’s findings back that up, too. Today’s 20-somethings have an “automatic, knee-jerk reaction to criticism,” he says, and tend to dismiss it.
“Even if they fail miserably at a job, they still think they’re great at it.”
Of course, to be fair, there’s another stereotype about Gen Yers. They may be high-maintenance, but they’re committed and idealistic, and determined to do work they believe in. A fair estimation?
No, according to another study, which will be published in the Journal of Management in September. Co-author Stacy Campbell, an assistant professor of management at Kennesaw State University, says the study revealed that when it comes to work, the two things Gen Yers care most about are a) high salaries, and b) lots of leisure time off the job.
“They want everything,” says Campbell. “They want the time off. They want the big bucks.”
To reach their conclusions, Campbell and co-author Jean Twenge — a professor of psychology at San Diego State and author of “Generation Me,” a book examinning discontent among members of Gen Y — worked over the data from an ongoing survey of high school students conducted annually since 1975 by the University of Michigan. Among their findings was that while both Gen Y and Gen X want sizable salaries, Gen X workers show greater awareness that a hefty paycheck comes with a hefty workload.
“The findings really support the idea that they’re entitled,” says Campbell.
Interesting…of course what is so funny the younger are the ones who will get screwed the most…gonna be a serious temper tantrum when the bill comes do and spending has to actually be cut along with taxes being raised…
My limited experience with this generation is in trying to hire someone lately. Due to the nature of the job I’ve had a lot of 23-27 year old applicants. The few I have interviewed have been miserable. One, when asked, “what do you know about our company” answered “absolutely nothing”. Nice. Others have sent cover letters laced with typos but with salary requirements near what I make.
Give me someone in their early 50s…please. They are fantastic workers.
Gen Y respondents scored 25 percent higher than respondents ages 40 to 60 and a whopping 50 percent higher than those over 61.
The title could easily be, “Young People Feel More Entitled Than Older People,” because there’s no evidence here the authors removed generation-independent age as a driver of the correlation.
The article is filled with grandiose conclusions which appear to be driven from statistical correlation. With none of the more rigorous work needed to isolate causation.
I enjoyed the book “Generation X,” but using “Gen X” and “Gen Y” as scientific terms just sets off all sorts of bullshit alarms.
If I get time I’ll read the actual papers and see if it all really is BS. Maybe it’s just bad journalism. But it appears to be another case of weak social “scientists” posing as actual scientists.
I would be interested in how this compares over a period of generations. For example, study the same group at age 20 and then at age 60. I would fully expect that their opinions change over that period.
Apparently I live in a different world than other folks. In my experience, the kids we’ve hired over the last few years are incredibly talented and have a great work ethic. Many take time out of their career to do things like Americorps or CityYear. Maybe it is just my field, but I never would have gotten my start in the field if I had to compete with people of this quality.
I am a generation Y’er and I hate to say it but I completely agree with the article.
I do not think I am your typical Generation Yer though… Maybe it was the work ethic my parents gave me, who knows. Thanks Mom and Dad!
I work for a non-profit (something I believe in). And believe me, I know I will never become rich in the profession I am in.
I just hope to make ends meet for my family and enjoy the finer things in life. (Spending time together)
But yeah, we are lazy, egotistical and are owed everything.
Helicopter parents who want to be their kids’ best friend are creating this mess.
That’s an issue as well as a “Don’t Fail” education system and a constant stroking of kids self-esteem to the point that we have gone completely over-board with all of this.
Of course then they hit the real world, post-school and the harsh reality of the meritocracy of it all hits them.
Why is it that as a society and a culture we have to do everything to excess and way over-board?
The cream will always rise to the top, and I am sure there are a ton of hardworking, dedicated and focused kids that will do anything and everything that they can to get ahead, but it’s the fat part of the bell curve of the demographic that may be problematic.
Ok here is an argument I though of this morning, not that I 100% believe it, but just to see what the older guys think:
We are the generation of seeing
no pensions
less employer health care benefits
less 401k match contributions
less job security
less business loyalty
potentially being asked to do more for less
I don’t agree with this last statement (cus that is how you move your way up, prove what you can do), but a co-worker/friend brought it up, we both took on the roles of three other people each. then get paid less then what one of those people got paid. Yes technology and standardization helped but still a lot of processes we have to do. Maybe we are just in a shitty situation, but Im sure other companies do this, and I understand it, efficiency makes the business work.
No, according to another study, which will be published in the Journal of Management in September. Co-author Stacy Campbell, an assistant professor of management at Kennesaw State University, says the study revealed that when it comes to work, the two things Gen Yers care most about are a) high salaries, and b) lots of leisure time off the job.
Why is this a bad thing? I want to be paid for my work, and have vacation. What else am I supposed to care about, employment-wise? I know that employers will jettison me as soon as it is economical to do so.
Someone should do a study, about retirees and their voting habits. Do they vote for higher taxes and less entitlement (in the form of social security or medicare) or do they vote with their own best interests in mind? My impression is that a lot of retirees think that they paid for their own medicare/social security in some sort of “lock box” and think that their money is sitting in some bank vault somewhere, while the young are trying to take it away from them.
I’m not even Gen Y, I just get tired of this generational stereotyping BS. It all boils down to, “in my day, I used pine cones as toilet paper, and ate beetles for breakfast!”
It’s not, like most things, in moderation. Problem is that America as a whole has and continues with each generation to expect more and more for doing less and less. Again nothing wrong with that until what you produce is worth less than what you’re getting…which frankly has been the case for several decades now in the US.
The gap between value as a an employee and compensation and spending is massive at this point and eventually will crashing down.
It all boils down to, “in my day, I used pine cones as toilet paper, and ate beetles for breakfast!”
As a generation, prior to Baby boomers and even some of them, we produced more than we consumed. Not so much since then. We are now and have been for several decades living off the “Savings” of the WWII and prior generations. This is certainly not just a “Gen Y” issue, but Gen X and even boomers. Just that each successive generation seems to get worse.
As a generation, prior to Baby boomers and even some of them, we produced more than we consumed. Not so much since then.
Baby Boomers are going to consume a lot in their retirement years, far more than any generation in the past. Probably (given health care costs) more than they ever produced.
I just made that up. I have no numbers to back it up. But it’s how I feel. Entitlement isn’t particular to the young.
I just made that up. I have no numbers to back it up. But it’s how I feel. Entitlement isn’t particular to the young.
I’m not saying it is, in fact I said the opposite saying that each successive generation seems to get worse with the trend seeming to start with the boomers.
“Entitlement” is becoming an American trend, from Unions to politicians, CEO’s and traders to welfare recipients. The idea of Days pay for a days work seems to be a thing of the past. Many people just want the easy buck regardless of actual cost which in most cases is far greater than what they are producing.
Many people just want the easy buck regardless of actual cost which in most cases is far greater than what they are producing.
If someone would pay me more than the worth of what I am producing, why wouldn’t I take that offer? (absent some catch-22)
I agree that it’s weak to expect that, but in today’s world, I’ll work for the highest payer.
If I make widgets, or smoothies, and can sell them for 10x what it takes to make them, what’s wrong with that?
If I can sell my services to an employer for 10x what I actually produce, what’s wrong with that?
This mostly makes me think of people who trade on Wall St; what does a hedge fund manager produce? I’ve wanted to be a fund manager since the day I found out about them.
Baby Boomers are going to consume a lot in their retirement years, far more than any generation in the past. Probably (given health care costs) more than they ever produced.
I just made that up. I have no numbers to back it up. But it’s how I feel. Entitlement isn’t particular to the young.
It’s one thing to feel entitled to the ‘fruits of your labor’ after decades of hard work.
It’s another thing to expect $100k/year with 8 weeks off, flexible schedules, and working from home after graduating from college with a degree in sociology paid for by your parents and the biggest hardship so far was getting a BMW instead of the Bentley you wanted for your sweet 16.
If someone would pay me more than the worth of what I am producing, why wouldn’t I take that offer?
You will, until you can’t anymore.
What I’m saying is that we’ve been borrowing against our previous generations saved for the last several decades and the savings is running out. Eventually this country will not have the resources to pay that anymore and everything will come to an end.
The “Why” would be because if enough people realize the above we might actually have a steady decline rather than a free falling collapse
If I make widgets, or smoothies, and can sell them for 10x what it takes to make them, what’s wrong with that?
If I can sell my services to an employer for 10x what I actually produce, what’s wrong with that?
In both cases nothing until the competition comes in and under cuts you or your job just disappears.
This mostly makes me think of people who trade on Wall St; what does a hedge fund manager produce?
Cash for those that invest via a myriad of various methods.
It’s one thing to feel entitled to the ‘fruits of your labor’ after decades of hard work.
It’s another thing to expect $100k/year with 8 weeks off, flexible schedules, and working from home after graduating from college with a degree in sociology paid for by your parents and the biggest hardship so far was getting a BMW instead of the Bentley you wanted for your sweet 16.
I don’t see them as different at all, merely different magnitudes of the same thing so long as what you get is less than what you put in which is the case for SS and medicare.
It’s one thing to feel entitled to the ‘fruits of your labor’ after decades of hard work.
It’s another thing to expect $100k/year with 8 weeks off, flexible schedules, and working from home after graduating from college with a degree in sociology paid for by your parents and the biggest hardship so far was getting a BMW instead of the Bentley you wanted for your sweet 16.
Were the super-rich the only ones having the children who grew into Gen Y? That’s what your statement implies.
The privileged have always been brats, there’s nothing different about people born during a certain decade.
Ok here is an argument I though of this morning, not that I 100% believe it, but just to see what the older guys think:
We are the generation of seeing
no pensions
less employer health care benefits
less 401k match contributions
less job security
less business loyalty
potentially being asked to do more for less
you older generations what is your defense?
I have been doing/dealing with that for the past 15 years. And I am not a Gen Y
