After-Thoughts About GEN Y

Posting and running without thinking can be dangerous.  After the session I spoke with Lisa.  She took my place at Integra Telecom when I left there and after that moved on to work for PERS at the State.  We are both Gen Xers.  And we were BLOWN AWAY by the reaction to the ‘best advice’ answers that were given.

In talking about it we came to a conclusion.  I am not sure if it is correct (or will be) but it sure sounds right.  Jason mentioned that with the economy the way it is, the Baby Boomers (as a whole) won’t be going anywhere.  They are sticking around for a while.  If that is so, they are a major driving force of culture for the State agencies and organizations (Oregon is its own largest employer with something like 42K employees).   The culture is old.  Difficult to change.  A challenging mindset.  What Gen Yer will want to work in those conditions? Oh, I am sure there will be some, but not many.  And, as one person pointed out in a discussion of employee retention, those Gen Yers are joining after college – but they just want a job and some experience.  Then they leave.  That is what they were seeing.

When the Baby Boomers leave and they don’t have anyone who wants to backfill – what then?  I see a BIG divide on the horizon.   Maybe an opportunity?  Anyone?