A recent article in a local business magazine was discussing the youngest generation of workers to enter the workforce. They entitled it “Generation Gimme” How to Work With the Entitlement Generation. You got that right? The best and most important part of the article is this quote

The Laissez-faire attitude is common because this particular generation typically hasn’t had anything to worry about or work for. If they want something – be it a toy or a job – they get it. A lot has to do with parenting style…

Don’t get me wrong the article also offers some insight from the management point and some advice for the younger generation on the expectations in the real world, including some insight as to what a business owner is looking for these days. It is not much different from what we look for for the past uh.. forever. That is

“…they will hire some one with the ability to work hard and take pride in their work over experience anyday”

This article however finishes with a condescending attitude to us older folk (anyone over 30, ok 40?) the feel is we are supposed to parent the new employees. Now I do not have a problem with insight to new attitudes skills etc however this type of article becoming more and more common and I am getting concerned with this mentality. So I have my own advice to business managers and employees

Managers

I do call bullshit on the entitlement generation, we have already been pinned down by the political correcters in society for fear of offending somebody racially, genderally, disabilitied, ( yes I am pissed and I am making up my own words today) now we are being told to be afraid to manage our employees. I call BULLSH*T OH SORRY! this is inappropriate management. Ok Stupid Management, I cannot get away from this, I see it everyday in every industry and now as the same politicians that create the housing and banking mess Yes the ones that said loosen the lending guidelines so every American can afford get into a home are now the ones responsible for finding out what went wrong! Anybody check to see how much each one of these idiots recieved in campaign contributions? Well here is some light to the subject Senator Chris Dodd head of the “Banking Committee” over $4 mil from the investment banking industry including Fannie and Freddie.

WILL SOMEBODY GROW A SET OF BALLS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!!!!!

What does this have to do with the Article I read well nothing and everything. It is called Business 101 You are responsible for the creation, advertising then delivering your brand to your customers. It is your business! You have the vision, the capital, took the risk invested Blood Sweat and Tears into starting and growing your Restaurant. You run your operation the way you feel best. If you want to be a draconian prick of an owner then deal with the high employee turnover, if you want to be a complete 98 pound weakling and be friends with every employee and worry about being liked. Then deal with them running your business into the ground. If you Choose to learn leadership skills and runn your business based upon having the best people in the best positions, train the heck out of them, employ effective leadership and management skills then you will be successful. You choose, But do not buy into this passive acceptance of changing your leadership style, and delivering your brand to fit the narcistic needs of the younger generation.

Employees

Now in this article the author did dispense some great advice to the new young employee’s.

1. Turn off the WIIFM (Whats in it For Me) radio station
2. Hurry up and Wait (your turn) Credibility is earned
3. Manage your career Paying your dues means extra time and energy (nobody owes you anything)
4. High Maintenance means see ya
5. Pride ( in your Work not ego)

Now I know that this does not apply to all of you, If you do not know which ones apply to you then you probably are on the wrong side of the PTO (Planned Turn Over) list. that means the bottom 5

Related posts:

1. My Manager is a Moron!
2. HR is Not Your Friend…
3. Interviewing 7 Must Questions