inquisity

There was an interesting article awhile back on the expectations of Generation Y workers. The general premise is that we believe we’re entitled to more than any generation before us. Key quotes:

Employees under the age of 29, also known as Generation Y, expect their employers to provide more benefits and other perks than their older counterparts, according to a new survey from CareerBuilder.com and Harris Interactive. Gen Y workers want better pay, a flexible work schedule and company-provided.

“Employers expect entry-level employees to have substantial work experience, be top of their class, dress professionally, et cetera,” Treichel says. “Personally, I worked hard at two year-round internships while still going to school my last two years. I don’t expect high pay and a BlackBerry, but I do expect to be compensated for the hard work I put in preparing for the position.”

Fifteen percent of employers reported modifying their policies in order to appease their Gen Y employees. Of those employers who made changes, 57 percent implemented more flexible work schedules and 33 percent created new recognition programs.

I think it’s true that we have a strong sense of entitlement when it comes to work. However, we back that entitlement up with hard work – between email and cell phones, we’re always on call and willing to travel.

While I acknowledge a shift in expectations of new workers is tough for companies, it also provides opportunities for early-acknowledgers to recruit the best talent by using instruments which speak to us: make us excited with YouTube videos, give us incentives like flexible work schedules, and reward us and our fellow employees based largely on merit. The companies that have started doing this really stand out.