[quote=bearishgurl][quote=yamashi1][quote=flyer]Yes, BG, I have posted the points you made above, and, yes, those are the facts, but the purpose of my recent post was to illustrate the point that, as Millennials like to point out regarding their options in life, many of us, as Boomers, were also in a position to choose how we lived our lives–in direct opposition to common myths floating around about our generation.
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Flyer, seems like you have had a great life so far and one that I am personally trying to achieve. Regarding your statement above regarding “options in life” I don’t think us Millennials feel that we have more options per se, but instead more open to the idea of flexibility in our current jobs thanks to technology and the way we think. If using the 80’s as an example, someone in finance such as myself would be required to work in the office during a set time and others would view working remotely or leaving early and logging in later negatively. I think my generation is significantly more understanding and open to this idea as our ideas of work has shifted. A lot of old timers don’t understand this new work environment (my father included), and for some reason equates this to leaving work early to less productivity. Our generation would instead look at this much more positively as we really dislike micromanaging, and value a positive work/life balance.[/quote]We disliked to be “micromanaged” as well. As a matter of fact, we hated it with a passion. But if we didn’t follow the “rules” regarding tardiness (on arrival and back from lunch hour) and excessive absences, we would have so much leave bled off our “books” piecemeal that we would never get to take our vacations cuz we would be “out of time.” Many parents couldn’t help it and were never able to take vacations (just occasional 3-4 day weekends). A very large portion of employees never kept more than 8 hours sick leave and 8 hours vacation on the books at any given time, regardless of accrual rate. They weren’t able to, due to kid and elderly parent obligations. This was especially true of single parents.
If millenials are now coming and going as they please in most office settings and still taking their full vacations and collecting their full pay, then they have absolutely NOTHING to complain about.
An employee has no control as to who is currently occupying the positions above them. Even if that position vacates, they have no control in whether they are chosen for it … or not. There could easily be 12 internal applications for said position. You can always look outside of your firm or organization for promotional opportunities elsewhere and if successfully hired, vote with your feet.
No worker is ever “guaranteed” continuous internal promotions. This has always been the case.[/quote]
And you used to walk to work barefoot in the snow up hills both ways…
Many employers still have strict working hours policies as you describe above. However, the most competitive and cutting edge companies realize that old school thinking you describe is flawed. These companies are adapting to the generational changes in the workforce and recognize that in order to attract and retain top talent, they must offer the flexibility younger workers highly value.
