Monday, April 26, 2010

Young Employees Unimpressed With Peers' Efforts

(From The Washington Post -- By Ian Shapira)

JARED ROGALIA, 25, a HERTZ rental car manager-trainee, is as cranky as someone twice his age when he complains about his generation's work ethic.

Here's how Rogalia characterizes his age group.

The first is: Really spoiled and lazy.
The second is: We're free-spirited.
And the third is: They'd rather be poorer and have free time than have a lot of money.

THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION -- about 50 million people ages 18 to 29 -- is the only age group in the nation that doesn't cite work ethic as one of its "principal claims to distinctiveness," according to a new PEW RESEARCH CENTER study, MILLENNIALS: CONFIDENT. CONNECTED. OPEN TO CHANGE.

The Washington-based non-profit found that young adults and their elders agree -- Baby boomers and members of Generation X have better work ethic and moral values than those in their 20s.

In a survey of about 1,200 people of all ages, those in Generation Y chose other traits to define themselves.

24% said "Technology Use"
11% went with "Music/Pop Culture"
7% chose "Liberal/Tolerant"
6% said "Smarter"

Only 5% noted their generation's "Work Ethic" -- the same portion who chose "clothes" as their distinction.

Young Employees Unimpressed With Peers' Efforts

2 comments:

Judy and Jon said...

I read this in the original form (ya know, "what's black and white and read all over?) It is VERY true.

Anonymous said...

While I would question some of the numbers quoted in the article, I think that every generation has thought less of the following generation. My grandparents saw sloth and laziness in the next generation and my parents were the same with my generation.
If there's any finger pointing to do; I'd really start with the school and education systems. They're fostering a lack of morals and downgrading the intellectual strengths of traditional American values.