As an employer I find the graying work force responsible, trustworthy, grateful and loyal. I find the large majority of Gen X and Gen Y work force entitlement minded, self centered and self absorbed needing instant gratification without a great concern to “pay their dues”.
Thanks, in a small way, to the recession so I may keep my graying work force longer. I’m in the middle of those generations so I have no ax to grind, however, I only want to write a paycheck for good performance.
Yeah, I agree. We are that way. Darn baby-boomers what with their positive reinforcement and you-get-an-A-for-effort parenting philosophies. I’ll be sure not to screw up my kids with that garbage.
I tend to see the flip side. Me, being a young person (mid twenties), feel like I get paid less just because I am young, and they can get away with it. We younger people need to get paid more because when its time for us to retire, there will be no social security for us. Yes, I will agree that there are younf people that have the “me” mentaility, but don’t stereotype all young people. The ones that have the me mentaility will be stuck with the grunt work all of their lives, while the ones that have the mentaility of “work more, get paid more” will get the good jobs, such as, well, an insurance agent.
I have twenty something kids and I would put them up against anybody when it comes to working outside the home. At home is another story! So we shouldn’t lump all the youngns in one pile.
But when it comes to hiring outside help, it is really difficult to find someone that doesn’t know everything and want everything now. I am looking for some youngns to join an agency and it is tough very tough.
The fact that you are younger and need more money so you can finance your retirement doesn’t mean you should get paid more. Ever hear of the word EARN? You will be compensated for what your skills and abilities are worth. If you’re smart enough to foresee a cash crunch when you’re old enough to retire, I suggest you make yourself worth the increased salary you need.
Welcome to the reality of the “new” generation. Their philosophy is “I need, therefore you must pay me now.” Too many lack the discipline and patience to LEARN the business and EARN their keep. They’ve been allowed to have their instant gratification and their parents are to blame. I recently had some 23 year old snot with 2 years experience ask to be considered for an AVP position. They just don’t get it. You need to learn the business before you can manage it.
You talk about the “me mentality” as if you don’t have it yet you claim you should be making more money solely because you’re young? I am baffled by your comments. I will be 30 in less than a year and I can’t help but feel like your comment does nothing but prove the point that everyone believes our generation was born with a silver spoon in our mouths. Sure, we have to be savvier than prior generations in order to prepare for our retirement. If I had the option to opt out of Social Security I would in a heartbeat. But that is not my employer’s problem; it is mine. If you want to make more money, earn it through hard work like the rest of us.
My point is that employers look at peoples’ age, not work ethic anymore. At my first job, I was the one of the hardest workers my age there, yet I got paid the same amount as my other coworkers that did half the work I did. Now tell me, if a person in their mid twenties and a person in their fourties gets hired for the same job, same experiance level, same gender, same work ethic, same everything, you are going to tell me they are not going to pay the older person more just because of their age (or should I say, pay the younger person less)? Yes, there are plenty of people my age that are slackers, but why should I get paid the same as them when I have the same work ethic as an older person? This also assumes that all older workers are better workers. Just like all young workers are not slackers, not all older people are model employees either.
TX Agentman, I share your frustration when encountering such situations. However, treatment of older vs younger workers is not universal among all employers – if you feel you are not being rewarded adequately for your work with your current employer, you need to consider moving on. At the very least, you have a relative advantage when looking for work – I believe older people have a harder time finding new positions. It varies by occupation though.
I’ve mostly experienced the opposite, actually. I started my career at a very large company who really liked young employees. I have to admit it was a little terrifying actually; I never quite felt prepared for the additional responsibilities lobbed at me, a reward I suppose for my work ethic.
I have experienced both sides of it now; when I worked at a large company, intelligence and work ethic were quickly rewarded (sometimes, TERRIFYINGLY quickly). Working for a smaller employer now, the age discrimination is a little more prevalent, but not objectionably so.
Plain and simple there are just differing perspectives which are split along generational lines. Older generations came up in a culture where loyalty to the employer was both expected and rewarded. Younger people do not believe that’s the case any longer, and are not willing to wait it out for a reward that may never come.
I can remember when I was a young’n and what happened as I progressed in life to become an old’n. When I was young, I worked my tail off, day and night, and became the “go to guy” wherever I worked. I had marriage problems from being gone, but I had enough money that she stuck with me. The bosses typically paid enough money to keep me because they became nervous thinking about my leaving. Some didn’t pay fairly, and I left for greener pastures. I averaged multiple job offers in any given month, and I kept notes so it was pretty easy to move when necessary.
As I moved to middle age, this continued, but I became complacent because “I had it made” and forgot to take notes and keep my eyes open for job offers. I got got caught in a company buyout and dinged with 2-3% raises and it was harder to move, so an old’n does not have it made, either. Some companies seem to prefer older workers (banks, financial, insurance), which helps balance out those others that practice age discrimination.
The best way to be happily employed regardless of your age(current depression excluded) is to work hard, study hard to improve yourself and become a “go to guy (or gal)” and always keep your eyes open for a better job. My experience is that most companies have shed the idea of loyalty to employees, so carefully consider your loyalty to the company. I infer this from most employment applications that clearly state (something like) “this company is an at-will employer, and either party may terminate employment at any time for any or no reason”. If you read that on your employment application, assume no employer loyalty and plan accordingly.
Now if we could have Homeland Security keep the illegals out of this country, everyone could get a job. But wait, they need a job too and we don’t need them to pay taxes or health care cost. Taxes and health care are way overrated. Isn’t that the liberal mind!!!! Maybe the liberals will see it when they’re unemployed and taxes get raised.
As an employer I find the graying work force responsible, trustworthy, grateful and loyal. I find the large majority of Gen X and Gen Y work force entitlement minded, self centered and self absorbed needing instant gratification without a great concern to “pay their dues”.
Thanks, in a small way, to the recession so I may keep my graying work force longer. I’m in the middle of those generations so I have no ax to grind, however, I only want to write a paycheck for good performance.
Yeah, I agree. We are that way. Darn baby-boomers what with their positive reinforcement and you-get-an-A-for-effort parenting philosophies. I’ll be sure not to screw up my kids with that garbage.
I tend to see the flip side. Me, being a young person (mid twenties), feel like I get paid less just because I am young, and they can get away with it. We younger people need to get paid more because when its time for us to retire, there will be no social security for us. Yes, I will agree that there are younf people that have the “me” mentaility, but don’t stereotype all young people. The ones that have the me mentaility will be stuck with the grunt work all of their lives, while the ones that have the mentaility of “work more, get paid more” will get the good jobs, such as, well, an insurance agent.
I have twenty something kids and I would put them up against anybody when it comes to working outside the home. At home is another story! So we shouldn’t lump all the youngns in one pile.
But when it comes to hiring outside help, it is really difficult to find someone that doesn’t know everything and want everything now. I am looking for some youngns to join an agency and it is tough very tough.
TXAgentman,
The fact that you are younger and need more money so you can finance your retirement doesn’t mean you should get paid more. Ever hear of the word EARN? You will be compensated for what your skills and abilities are worth. If you’re smart enough to foresee a cash crunch when you’re old enough to retire, I suggest you make yourself worth the increased salary you need.
Sandman,
Welcome to the reality of the “new” generation. Their philosophy is “I need, therefore you must pay me now.” Too many lack the discipline and patience to LEARN the business and EARN their keep. They’ve been allowed to have their instant gratification and their parents are to blame. I recently had some 23 year old snot with 2 years experience ask to be considered for an AVP position. They just don’t get it. You need to learn the business before you can manage it.
TX Agentman,
You talk about the “me mentality” as if you don’t have it yet you claim you should be making more money solely because you’re young? I am baffled by your comments. I will be 30 in less than a year and I can’t help but feel like your comment does nothing but prove the point that everyone believes our generation was born with a silver spoon in our mouths. Sure, we have to be savvier than prior generations in order to prepare for our retirement. If I had the option to opt out of Social Security I would in a heartbeat. But that is not my employer’s problem; it is mine. If you want to make more money, earn it through hard work like the rest of us.
My point is that employers look at peoples’ age, not work ethic anymore. At my first job, I was the one of the hardest workers my age there, yet I got paid the same amount as my other coworkers that did half the work I did. Now tell me, if a person in their mid twenties and a person in their fourties gets hired for the same job, same experiance level, same gender, same work ethic, same everything, you are going to tell me they are not going to pay the older person more just because of their age (or should I say, pay the younger person less)? Yes, there are plenty of people my age that are slackers, but why should I get paid the same as them when I have the same work ethic as an older person? This also assumes that all older workers are better workers. Just like all young workers are not slackers, not all older people are model employees either.
TX Agentman, I share your frustration when encountering such situations. However, treatment of older vs younger workers is not universal among all employers – if you feel you are not being rewarded adequately for your work with your current employer, you need to consider moving on. At the very least, you have a relative advantage when looking for work – I believe older people have a harder time finding new positions. It varies by occupation though.
I’ve mostly experienced the opposite, actually. I started my career at a very large company who really liked young employees. I have to admit it was a little terrifying actually; I never quite felt prepared for the additional responsibilities lobbed at me, a reward I suppose for my work ethic.
I have experienced both sides of it now; when I worked at a large company, intelligence and work ethic were quickly rewarded (sometimes, TERRIFYINGLY quickly). Working for a smaller employer now, the age discrimination is a little more prevalent, but not objectionably so.
Plain and simple there are just differing perspectives which are split along generational lines. Older generations came up in a culture where loyalty to the employer was both expected and rewarded. Younger people do not believe that’s the case any longer, and are not willing to wait it out for a reward that may never come.
I can remember when I was a young’n and what happened as I progressed in life to become an old’n. When I was young, I worked my tail off, day and night, and became the “go to guy” wherever I worked. I had marriage problems from being gone, but I had enough money that she stuck with me. The bosses typically paid enough money to keep me because they became nervous thinking about my leaving. Some didn’t pay fairly, and I left for greener pastures. I averaged multiple job offers in any given month, and I kept notes so it was pretty easy to move when necessary.
As I moved to middle age, this continued, but I became complacent because “I had it made” and forgot to take notes and keep my eyes open for job offers. I got got caught in a company buyout and dinged with 2-3% raises and it was harder to move, so an old’n does not have it made, either. Some companies seem to prefer older workers (banks, financial, insurance), which helps balance out those others that practice age discrimination.
The best way to be happily employed regardless of your age(current depression excluded) is to work hard, study hard to improve yourself and become a “go to guy (or gal)” and always keep your eyes open for a better job. My experience is that most companies have shed the idea of loyalty to employees, so carefully consider your loyalty to the company. I infer this from most employment applications that clearly state (something like) “this company is an at-will employer, and either party may terminate employment at any time for any or no reason”. If you read that on your employment application, assume no employer loyalty and plan accordingly.
Now if we could have Homeland Security keep the illegals out of this country, everyone could get a job. But wait, they need a job too and we don’t need them to pay taxes or health care cost. Taxes and health care are way overrated. Isn’t that the liberal mind!!!! Maybe the liberals will see it when they’re unemployed and taxes get raised.