Communications of the ACM
Four Things Gen Y Gets Right About Work
Credit: Flickr
Many of the traits typically ascribed to members of Generation Y — such as their unwillingness to pay their dues — can actually be seen as a positive trend in the future direction of the workplace. For example, the job market has become more entrepreneurial than ever before, favoring employees who can move in and out of opportunities quickly. In addition, the increased attention that Generation Y pays to cultivating their social networks is a reaction to the deterioration of corporate loyalty within the workforce. The younger generation is changing today's workplace in several ways.
The IT job market has forever changed, with the average tenure at a job falling to four years. People move in and out of self-employment these days, too, in a way that renders the fear of "resume gaps" puzzling. If you can't get a job, you make a job. There's also nothing wrong with seeking a work-life balance. Because young people have grown up with mobile technology, the idea that they would have to report to an office from 9 to 5 in order to call and send emails to people in other places makes little sense. Consequently, flexible hours and the ability to work from home are viewed as the default, not privileges to be earned.
Managers complain that young people aren't satisfied with work that's just a job, and that's even leading to young people quitting a job without another decent job lined up. There's a sense that, if you can afford to do that, there's not anything wrong with it. Finally, Generation Y recognizes that networks are about people, not institutions. This is related to the idea that there are no permanent jobs. Young people know that companies cannot afford to be loyal. Instead, loyalties are to people, and thanks to social networking, you can keep in touch simultaneously with people from all facets of your life.
From CBS News
View Full Article
No entries found