I read an interesting humorous article about “Millennials” and the work rules they will enforce while in control of business. I realize this was somewhat a joke, but not far off from what they really think. Being a “”baby boomer” generation worker, I had to start at the bottom (even with a college education) and work my way up. I guess I’m considered middle management for pay and benefits.
The article starts with these funny, inane assumptions:
- We don’t like hierarchies, so everyone hired in will be a senior executive director and after two weeks are promoted to vice president.
- We will run the company as a unified team that agrees about everything.
- Nobody can tell anyone else what to do – “bossy-pants” behavior will no longer be tolerated.
- Everyone will start making more money — leveling out the economic inequalities within the present company.
- Using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, tweeting, or any other social media will now be considered working.
- Everyone is now free to get things right the second time.
- There’s no penalty for having your earbuds in.
- Meetings start when they start.
- Snacks will always be available.
- Anyone can have vacation any time they want
I have been around these “millennials” and they mostly look alike, act alike — young men look feminine, the young ladies have more tattoos than the young men – and many have metal hanging from their faces or tongues. It makes me hurt just thinking of the needles and piercings. And all of them, every one, have a cell phone, backpack, and casual clothes and the scrungier the better. No corporate look for these young workers.
As I look at them, I see myself when I first started, wanting to fit in with the older post World War II and Korean War guys – many with combat experience, driver/driver type personalities and most heavy smokers (and probably drinkers). I held the company line, worked my way up the ladder, slowly getting more compensation and benefits. I flew all over the country, doing my job to the utmost of my ability, usually working at least 10 hours a day and if I got five to six hours sleep, that was a good night. I had a good life working for the company and compensated well – sent my children to college, bought homes, cars, trips. Now I look back and remember those times compared with these kids about to take over.
I’m just glad I’m at the end of my career instead of starting now. We all worked hard; these young people come in late and leave early, expect at least an hour lunch break, morning and afternoon snacks be provided, and good pay and vacation right when they start. Times, as Dylan sang, “they are a-changin.” I just look at these kids and wonder how the company will survive without the constant “stroking” of these kids’ egos to make sure they get some productivity out of them.
Being an old curmudgeon (a title I wear proudly), I’m sure I’m over-reacting, just as others thought when they saw the likes of me when I showed up many years ago. But we had a work ethic and knew we had to work hard to get what we wanted. If you were a screwup, you didn’t last long. If you bitched and complained, you didn’t last long. Most of these kids never had to work for anything – mommy and daddy paid for everything (or they have a huge college loan to repay).
I really feel for these kids as they stumble forward in life; they don’t know what’s a job well done, sweating is for suckers, long hours working is for chumps, and they want everything now – gimme, gimme, gimme. They don’t have a work ethic or develop any loyalty to the company that provides their livelihoods.
I often wonder if their attitude at work is the same when thinking about the country in which we live? Would they defend the country, the Constitution, their freedoms?
Sadly, I think the humorous column is not far from reality and truth.
The rotting of America from within continues…
