Managing Gen Z is like working with people from a ‘different country’

Managers think their young employees are dumb and lazy... And young workers think their managers are aholes ... Wasn't like this at all when I was younger. Me and All my teenager friends totally took our minimum wages jobs completely serious and worked super hard at these jobs that we really cared about.

 

paywall

 

I took my low paying first jobs seriously. And I expect my kids to do the same.

You define why we are seeing the problems the OP is discussing today though…

 

Not a new thing. 20 years ago I was interviewing to fill an entry level position I had open. One dude fresh out of college with no experience expected 60k just for showing up (the company pay range for such a position was much lower). As we speak he is probably experiencing the same thing as he hires people younger than him to fill positions.

 

I've had some Gen Z'ers work for me. They've been enthusiastic, hard workers.

 

Yeah. Have managed gen-z staff with no issues other than me having to adapt to them. You know, like every generation ever.

Elvis was almost arrested for moving his hips. There is nothing new under the sun.

 

“[Young people] are high-minded because they have not yet been humbled by life, nor have they experienced the force of circumstances.
…
They think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it.”

-Aristotle

 

12ft Ladder

 

It's always hard to keep track of generational divides, but it appears to be generally accepted that Gen Z was born 1997-2012. Since the oldest are now 25 and the youngest 10, it's a bit premature to decide what kind of workers they are.

Meanwhile, and somewhat related, we watched "Won't You Be My Neighbor", the 2018 Fred Rogers documentary last night. It only touched on criticism of Mr. Rogers a little, but quoted a few people saying that he was an 'evil man' who destroyed a generation of children by turning them into narcissists and convincing them they were special despite never having done anything to earn it.

 

Bro, so did I. Teenagers have, through out history and until recently, been known as completely reliable and dedicated workers. It's a fact. This generation is completely different than when I was a kid, because me and my generation was superior and older people never talked down to us or treated us like we were worthless. Never. Something must be done to stop them.

 

Wow, older people thinking young people are entitled. What an original story!

 

No issues with the Gen Z. They make rational business decisions and are hard working. They have grown up in an age where information is available and they need to be challenged with connections in and thinking rather than brute force finding answers.

I do worry about a generational savings problem.

 

My main complaint about Gen Z is that they all dress like everyone did when I was in HS and it makes me feel like a dinosaur

 

Get off my lawn!

 

Companies caused this. There is no loyalty to workers. They are a tool, not a resource. Therefore the workers have no loyalty in return. Why be a corporate slave for owners who spend half there time figuring out how to move your job to India?

Gen Z is as smart as a generation as there is…until the next one. The real issue with Gen Z is they don’t aspire to corporate slavery and they have more options than ever.

 

What comes after generation Z after we run out of alphabets?

 

Next generation is Boomers II: Electric Boogaloo

 

I employ a lot of the younger generation. All in all I find the only major difference is they don't prioritize a "job" like older generations. They're much more into a work life balance, which if they can make it happen good for them. I dont blame them one bit. I had a guy that always had things going on in his personal life that interfered with work life. Eventually I let him go and told him while he's got to look out fir himself I've got to do the same.

 

Somebody has to be around to help answer our tech questions and explain the newest memes.