There. I said it. Not to get your attention but to be brutally honest. I am a part of generation X, and even I am tired of reading all the negative things about them. Don’t get me wrong. They do have their unique challenges, but that makes perfect sense. The world is different, and technology has changed the game for everyone. It is the nature of the business to evolve and grow based on changes to the marketplace and demographics internally. Many studies have proven the value of diversity. If evolution isn’t a part of your overall strategy for the short and long term, then the company has a more significant issue.
So what is the issue? We don’t have a millennial problem, we have a work ethic issue. Work ethic issues span across all generations, and that is our biggest challenge. Some people don’t want to work hard. Some people don’t want to put in extra time. Some people want to do the bare minimum. Some people are entitled. Some people don’t care. How about you stay late? No. How about you come in early? No. How about you work on bringing in extra clients? No How about you work business hours? No. How about you take an extra assignment? No. How about you go back to school? No. But you want extra money? Yes. Will you do anything extra? No. People automatically assume that millennials are the only group to have these issues and they are not correct
I’ve had to give feedback to many people over the years, and it was an issue with “that” person, not “them.” In my experience, work ethic can come from family, friends, access, where you grew up, how you grew up, and your background. If there is an issue with an employee or you see a reoccurring pattern of job turnover, it might be time to evaluate the work ethic instead of stereotyping an entire group.
What do you think? Can you teach someone to have a good work ethic after they are already in the workplace?
