Over the next few years, Gen Ys (those born in the early to mid 1980s to the early 2000s) will make up over 50% of the workforce and continue to grow as more and more Baby Boomers retire. So, demographically speaking, these individuals are the future of your organization, as well as your future customer base.
That said, as a staffing agency with over 20 years of experience, we also know that there are a lot of misconceptions out there about what it’s like to work with this generation of professionals – from the idea that they are lazy to the belief that they all have an attitude of entitlement. But that’s not necessarily 100% accurate. Here’s the real scoop on 4 popular Gen Y myths:
Myth #1: They only want to communicate via text and social media.
Just because technology is a natural part of life for them, doesn’t mean that all Gen Ys solely want to communicate through texting, IM-ing, social media or emailing. This generation does see value in other methods of communication, including face-to-face meetings.
Myth #2: All of them have attitudes of entitlement.
Some certainly may. And in fact, it’s not necessarily their fault. Many of their Baby Boomer parents coddled them, always telling them how special they were. And when you’re used to getting rewarded for every little thing – even if you didn’t perform so well – it’s not surprising that Gen Ys have a negative reputation in this department.
Myth #3: They don’t have a strong work ethic.
It’s true that some in this younger generation make not take their work as seriously as they should. However, most don’t necessarily have a poor work ethic; they just don’t want to “live to work.” They see value in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and expect to be able to do their work in non-traditional ways, from telecommuting to flex schedules.
Myth #4: They’re not loyal to their employers.
This is the generation that has witnessed the grief and frustration when their parents worked for the same company for decades, only to get laid off. They also understand the era of healthy pensions is long gone. As a result, they don’t have the expectation that they will be working for the same company for 30 years. So it’s not necessarily that they aren’t loyal to their employers, it’s just that they view their careers as more mobile.
At the end of the day, each person you hire has a unique personality, values, and skill set. So just because they fall into a certain demographic, don’t automatically assume they will demonstrate certain negative stereotypes.
And if you’d like some more tips about hiring Gen Ys, or help with hiring in general, let us know. As an experienced staffing agency, our team has consistently provided a link between the top jobs and the top people since 1987. Learn more now.
