Young employees and work

[TortElvisII]

I have hired and know of several young employees that have been hired into careers and they last 2 weeks to a year or two then quit. My age group was mostly terrified to do this. Not being sexist but it is largely females that just quit. Some have had other jobs, so they changed careers, but many just quit because the job was not what they expected.

It is almost if they believe that the job is going to be cool, fun and rewarding everyday. Most jobs have some bit of drudgery. Have others here experienced this?

Also, it's easy to hurt their feelings. I had a new employee that I pointed out to them on their first day that I had over 30 years experience and that I could train them very well because of that. This offended the person to the point that they hated me from that day forward because they thought I thought I was really good at what I did. You've been alive for 22 years, I have 35 years experience. Another thing that I've dealt with is kids come out of college thinking they're fully trained and they're really shocked when they find out, well to be blunt, you have a lot of training to do.

Retention is a huge problem. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that much but it does seem to bother management because they want certain numbers. I think if someone's heart isn't in the job they just need to go find something else anyway. I just bent over backwards to keep someone and we couldn't do anything to please them.

Whomever is telling these kids that work is fun, stop it.

 

[TheFrontRunner]

 

[TortElvisII]

I would respond but this thread isn't as cool as I thought so I am quitting.

 

[ukalumni00]

Young people thinking they know it all. New concept….. That said, yes, retention is much harder to keep these days. Just too many job opportunities out there. Labor market def favors the employee. Young people know they can bounce around and get pay raises because folks are desperate for employees and now you have WFH options and the like.

 

[Ron Mehico]

The current market is an “employee market”, which is awful actually. Also social media pushing a narrative of “side hustle” or showing younger people living a lavish lifestyle has set unrealistic expectations for people. In general this is a god awful time to be a small business owner.

 

[Hank Camacho_rivals115797]

The current market is an “employee market”, which is awful actually. Also social media pushing a narrative of “side hustle” or showing younger people living a lavish lifestyle has set unrealistic expectations for people. In general this is a god awful time to be a small business owner.

It is actually easier for me to work 60+ hours every week rather than hire someone, which sucks frankly.

 

[Vismund]

While it is true that the job market is in favor of the young employee at this time, it's also true that corporate and employee culture has drastically changed. Long gone are days that you are rewarded with longevity pay, a pension and the ability to support a household on a single income with a high school diploma and grit.

While I certainly respect that previous generations were more loyal, the companies they worked for were more loyal too. Also, generations have been lamenting the "softness" and "laziness" of the generations after them for centuries. Things get easier as you progress as a society. If you wanted your kids life to be as hard as your grandfather who worked mining coal and died at 50 with black lung, you wouldn't have put them through school to become a desk jockey somewhere and, I don't know, live a better life.

 

[natron20]

I dunno about all that, but it pisses me off to no end when I see anyone working a job and they have an ear bud in.

Your life doesn’t require an f’in soundtrack.

 

[cricket3]

I dunno about all that, but it pisses me off to no end when I see anyone working a job and they have an ear bud in.

Awful take.

 

[bushrod1965]

I think a lot of the work attitude of younger folks includes the desire of personal fulfillment with their jobs. They refuse to sleepwalk through forty years of their life of punching a time clock for forty hours a week in a career that makes them miserable outside of getting a paycheck. They’ve seen their parents do the same and want contentment in their work life as well as their personal life. I’ve been blessed to work in a profession I’m passionate about for 35 years but I’m at the age where I’m seeing friends retire from jobs they actually hated with the mindset of, “Those thirty plus years sucked. I’m happy that’s over.”

 

[Ron Mehico]

I think a lot of the work attitude of younger folks includes the desire of personal fulfillment with their jobs. They refuse to sleepwalk through forty years of their life of punching a time clock for forty hours a week in a career that makes them miserable outside of getting a paycheck. They’ve seen their parents do the same and want contentment in their work life as well as their personal life. I’ve been blessed to work in a profession I’m passionate about for 35 years but I’m at the age where I’m seeing fiends retire from jobs they actually hated with the mindset of, “Those thirty plus years sucked. I’m happy that’s over.”

Although I love your description of Eden, in actual REAL LIFE REALITY what this results in are employees that keep quitting and jumping from job to job searching their “passion” that results in them not really that happy, not settled, and leaving a lot of annoyed and jaded businesses that then in turn become less loyal due to their experiences too. It’s resulted in a “what’s in it for me where’s my happiness!” Attitude for both the employee and employer. The reality of life is that there are aspects of every job that sick ***, and sometimes true careers that you love suck in the beginning.

 

[hmt5000]

I wonder how much of the "jobs added" each month is just businesses rehiring for positions people quit the last month? We fired one girl because she called in 4 times in the first month and was late a few days... So her friend also quit. So then we were short handed and had to work a little over so another guy quit because he didn't want to work overtime.

We have gone through 17 people trying to fill 4 spots since Jan. We've raised starting pay 3 times since 2021. People just don't want to work. I'd fire 2 more people we have because they are so lazy but at least they show up. It's just weird. It's not just young people either. We have 2 guys in their 50's that dont accomplish a full days work combined.

 

[Mdnerd]

I’m technically in the millennial generation, but I try not to claim it. I’ve run a business for almost 12 years now and I’ve had to terminate 90%+ of employees under the age of 35. I’ve also had quite a few quit with no tears coming from me as they walk out.

I offer the employees a very fair wage for the services expected and I leave them alone to do their job without harassment and micromanaging. I’ve got a dozen 10+ year employees who are older and come to work with a smile.

Im not going to get into my theories as to why, but there is an unbelievable difference in attitude between the generations. The younger people are impossible to keep happy and you have to maintain very low expectations for work quality so as to not be overly stressed and disappointed constantly. It’s truly amazing to witness.

 

[FirewithFire]

It's not just young people. I've had the same problem out of 40-50 year olds. The problem seems to be that those who want to actually work have a job already. The only people left are, just bluntly, of subpar character and have subpar work ethic.

Job hopping isn't good, but on the corporate side of things, if you want a raise you have to move to another company to get it. Granted, you probably worked for company A for 3-5 years before you left for company B. Good or bad, right now it is just a thing.

 

[TortElvisII]

I think a lot of the work attitude of younger folks includes the desire of personal fulfillment with their jobs. They refuse to sleepwalk through forty years of their life of punching a time clock for forty hours a week in a career that makes them miserable outside of getting a paycheck. They’ve seen their parents do the same and want contentment in their work life as well as their personal life. I’ve been blessed to work in a profession I’m passionate about for 35 years but I’m at the age where I’m seeing fiends retire from jobs they actually hated with the mindset of, “Those thirty plus years sucked. I’m happy that’s over.”

I agree with you to a point. However, giving a job four weeks really isn't a giving it much of a chance. She commented that she didn't like the job she was leaving. The problem is she hasn't been on the job long enough to experience many other facets of the job she would be dealing with.

I once hated the job I'm in but stuck with it and have enjoyed it most of my career. I just don't think you can give up as quick as these younger folks seem to give up.

 

[TortElvisII]

I dunno about all that, but it pisses me off to no end when I see anyone working a job and they have an ear bud in.

Your life doesn’t require an f’in soundtrack.

Almost every employee under 30 that's not dealing directly with the public will have that.

 

[Mdnerd]

These job jumpers are in for a very rude awakening soon. It works right now because everyone is struggling to staff. As the pendulum swings back, and it will, a resume will look AWFUL to a potential employer if you have little to no longevity at any job.

When entered the work force, I had to go into great detail as to why I worked a job for less than a year, despite the fact I’d been at my current job for several. It was a big concern. Those days will come back and it will be ugly.

 

[ukalumni00]

We opened up a new sales territory right when Covid hit which made the interviewing process almost impossible. Desperately needed to fill the position and got a few resumes. The best we could find was a late 20 something that had worked for 5 different companies since 2015. Def a job hopper to get pay raises. Interviewed average at best. Told management to stay away and just suck it up for a bit until a better candidate came along but they hired him anyway because of desperation.

Just quit a few weeks ago to go work for a competitor. Found out he had milked the job for 3 months while looking around and left a ton of work to do that should have been handled. Several of us are now trying to get it done and salvage some damaged relationships with customers. Guy has zero character or integrity.

I get people want more money and opportunity to support their families. Employer loyalty is sketchy as well but why anyone would want to hire someone who has worked for 6 different employers in a 7 year span is just foolish IMO but that is where things are right now and workers are taking full advantage of it.

 

[TortElvisII]

While it is true that the job market is in favor of the young employee at this time, it's also true that corporate and employee culture has drastically changed. Long gone are days that you are rewarded with longevity pay, a pension and the ability to support a household on a single income with a high school diploma and grit.

While I certainly respect that previous generations were more loyal, the companies they worked for were more loyal too. Also, generations have been lamenting the "softness" and "laziness" of the generations after them for centuries. Things get easier as you progress as a society. If you wanted your kids life to be as hard as your grandfather who worked mining coal and

Without getting into too many details, this is in an environmental STEM field. The last employee was outstanding in work ethic. I feel bad for people that get degrees in environmental STEM fields and discover they do not like the work. Or any field. Probably should intern or volunteer in those jobs before getting a degree in them.

 

[TortElvisII]

Young people thinking they know it all. New concept….. That said, yes, retention is much harder to keep these days. Just too many job opportunities out there. Labor market def favors the employee. Young people know they can bounce around and get pay raises because folks are desperate for employees and now you have WFH options and the like.

I was talking to a young employee a couple years back that was about 2 weeks into the job. I told him about all the training he would be needing. He informed me that he learned everything he needed at college and that he probably would not be learning much more than what he learned in college. I told him he would be learning something new almost every day of his career and that what he knows now won't be a thimble compared to what he'll know in 20 years or 30 years. His response was then why did I go to college. So, you could qualify to get your foot in the door and to show that you understand what you're going into. Maybe it was just him as an individual and not the entire generation, but the thought that he knew everything he was ever going to know after college, man. I learned more in the first 6 months on the job than I learned in college altogether.

 

[roguemocha]

I agree that no one wants to hate life and punch a time kick for 30 years anymore. I took a 2/3 pay cut to get paid to workout and train people to do it because it is my PASSION. Sometimes you just have to do it. But these kids that want social
Media to be their life’s work are in trouble. Even at my job I have paperwork and stuff I don’t necessarily like but it’s a small part of it. Most of the time I do what I love to do.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

Best way to get a raise is to quit and take a job elsewhere. I doubled my salary in two years by doing nothing but that alone, and the quality of my benefits is just astronomically higher now. I'm at the point that I'm good with the company that I'm at, and since my company comprises of four hospitals and countless outpatient facilities, after a year in a position I can just transfer to another medical practice if I get tired of being where I am.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

I wonder how much of the "jobs added" each month is just businesses rehiring for positions people quit the last month? We fired one girl because she called in 4 times in the first month and was late a few days... So her friend also quit. So then we were short handed and had to work a little over so another guy quit because he didn't want to work overtime.

We have gone through 17 people trying to fill 4 spots since Jan. We've raised starting pay 3 times since 2021. People just don't want to work. I'd fire 2 more people we have because they are so lazy but at least they show up. It's just weird. It's not just young people either. We have 2 guys in their 50's that dont accomplish a full days work combined.

Sounds like you have a ****** hiring department.

I don't blame a guy for quitting for not wanting to work OT. I did that regularly for like 12 years in college athletics and it was ******* terrible. And I'm not talking like a couple hours or something, like 50-60+ a week. I got burnt out pretty bad.

I once in a while help one of the local schools when they need the help, it only takes up like 2.5-3 hours of my time whenever I do it, and I get paid pretty well for this side gig, anywhere from $50-75 a game for what is frankly some of the easiest work I will ever do. Even after being out of that for over three years now, I still don't really get any satisfaction out of the work like I used to before I got burnt out. I hope to one day regain the joy I used to have working in college athletics because at one point I really did love it, but after being three years out, I have serious doubts it will ever come back.

 

[Mdnerd]

Best way to get a raise is to quit and take a job elsewhere.

That typically happens after building real experience and actually becoming good at what you do. This thing happening today is just fantasy land.

Being able to take a job for a few weeks, be terrible at it, and then quit for a better job is idiocracy type stuff. When the market inevitably turns, these people are going to be amazed at how undesirable they are in the work place.

 

[Vismund]

Well, you also have to consider how this generation was pounded with, "No one ever says on their death bed they wished they spent more time working," so they're likely going to value quality of life and home/work balance over being chained to their desk.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people in my generation and the current generation that work as hard or harder than anyone before them. They, along with those who simply don't work, are outliers.

The concept that this is some new fangled thing that hasn't been happening forever, however, is a farce.

 

[Vismund]

That typically happens after building real experience and actually becoming good at what you do. This thing happening today is just fantasy land.

Being able to take a job for a few weeks, be terrible at it, and then quit for a better job is idiocracy type stuff. When the market inevitably turns, these people are going to be amazed at how undesirable they are in the work place.

That's a reckoning they may have to deal with but you may be surprised to find that if all of your applicants, especially in a field like computer science, have resume's littered with different jobs, you can't really differentiate. Loyal workers will stay loyal, to a point. If everyone is just talking about truly lazy people who refuse to work/learn and/or try, you're talking about a minority.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

Well, you also have to consider how this generation was pounded with, "No one ever says on their death bed they wished they spent more time working," so they're likely going to value quality of life and home/work balance over being chained to their desk.

This. I had a job like that. Then I quit because I got sick of always sacrificing my personal life for work. Now I have a better salary and better benefits, and I never work a single minute of overtime, night, or weekends and get a half day off on Fridays. And my current job is much more menial work requiring far less professional/educational qualifications, but I'd take it 10 times out of 10 over working 50-60+ hours of week regardless of the compensation. F*** that whole living to work mentality.

 

[DSmith21]

I have never seen a generation that is so unwilling to pay their dues to gain valuable experience. They want instant gratification and think that they know it all on day one. Ultimately, they will be fine after learning some hard lessons when the job market turns soft.

 

[Mdnerd]

That's a reckoning they may have to deal with but you may be surprised to find that if all of your applicants, especially in a field like computer science, have resume's littered with different jobs, you can't really differentiate. Loyal workers will stay loyal, to a point. If everyone is just talking about truly lazy people who refuse to work/learn and/or try, you're talking about a minority.

While I agree that type is a minority, it’s FAR more prevalent in todays world than years past.

As far as fields that may not be able to differentiate, that will undoubtedly shift as time goes on. So those who recognize the change and correctly build out a good resume will be rewarded long term. Those who continue with this current behavior will be left behind.

Another big issue you’ll see with a shift in the job market is mass layoffs. My story is not uncommon at all. So when business demand drops,I can keep everyone on and lower my margins or cut the dead weight. What do you think me and thousands of other business owners will do?

 

[roguemocha]

Sounds like you have a ****** hiring department.

I don't blame a guy for quitting for not wanting to work OT. I did that regularly for like 12 years in college athletics and it was ****ing terrible. And I'm not talking like a couple hours or something, like 50-60+ a week. I got burnt out pretty bad.

I once in a while help one of the local schools when they need the help, it only takes up like 2.5-3 hours of my time whenever I do it, and I get paid pretty well for this side gig, anywhere from $50-75 a game for what is frankly some of the easiest work I will ever do. Even after being out of that for over three years now, I still don't really get any satisfaction out of the work like I used to before I got burnt out. I hope to one day regain the joy I used to have working in college athletics because at one point I really did love it, but after being three years out, I have serious doubts it will ever come back.

I worked in college athletics for just over a month as a AT and we were working 80+ hours a week 7 days a week. It’s a job you have to want to do, there’s little reward if your team doesn’t win.

 

[Nightwish84]

Nobody see the irony of complaining about the younger generation's laziness and refusal to work when there are dozens who are older than them that post on this site practically all day Mon-Fri? Now I know on the Paddock everyone is a success story, but come on, something's gotta give. Either everyone here is 65 and retired or some here have chosen to post constantly when they should be doing their jobs.

Stop me if you've heard this before: the younger generation tends to complain a bit more and be a little more entitled at times while the older folks are a bit lazier, leading to the question, "What does that person do again exactly?" It was like that 20 years ago as well. We really are entering 'old man yells at cloud' territory here. Can't wait for the "them damn kids and their live-streaming hobby!" thread.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Nobody see the irony of complaining about the younger generation's laziness and refusal to work when there are dozens who are older than them that post on this site practically all day Mon-Fri? Now I know on the Paddock everyone is a success story, but come on, something's gotta give. Either everyone here is 65 and retired or some here have chosen to post constantly when they should be doing their jobs.

Stop me if you've heard this before: the younger generation tends to complain a bit more and be a little more entitled at times while the older folks are a bit lazier, leading to the question, "What does that person do again exactly?" It was like that 20 years ago as well. We really are entering 'old man yells at cloud' territory here. Can't wait for the "them damn kids and their live-streaming hobby!" thread.

There’s absolutely 100% truth to this - the truth is usually in the middle most of the time. However this is an obviously crazy and horrible time, as I’m sure you’ve tried to eat at a restaurant/build a house/order pizza/do anything at just about any aspect of life and be hindered by the massive labor shortage. No one is working right now, a lot of them being younger. It’s crazy.

 

[JumperJack]

The younger people are impossible to keep happy and you have to maintain very low expectations for work quality so as to not be overly stressed and disappointed constantly. It’s truly amazing to witness.

Here is truth. Some will say that through history the old have always criticized the young…but somehow, the young always ended up becoming as capable as their predecessors.

There’s just no way that’s the case with what we’re seeing. The participation trophy approach is bearing some rotten fruit.

 

[TortElvisII]

Nobody see the irony of complaining about the younger generation's laziness and refusal to work when there are dozens who are older than them that post on this site practically all day Mon-Fri? Now I know on the Paddock everyone is a success story, but come on, something's gotta give. Either everyone here is 65 and retired or some here have chosen to post constantly when they should be doing their jobs.

Stop me if you've heard this before: the younger generation tends to complain a bit more and be a little more entitled at times while the older folks are a bit lazier, leading to the question, "What does that person do again exactly?" It was like that 20 years ago as well. We really are entering 'old man yells at cloud' territory here. Can't wait for the "them damn kids and their live-streaming hobby!" thread.

I know it's hard for you but try to read the first post. It's not about what you say it is. It is about leaving jobs in a very short period because the job was not what they thought it would be.

 

[Nightwish84]

There’s just no way that’s the case with what we’re seeing. The participation trophy approach is bearing some rotten fruit.

I'm currently rolling my eyes up into my skull.

I was in a little bowling league as a child 25 years ago. Everyone who participated in said league received a trophy, hence, participation trophy. That's not some brand new thing that you get to attach to this generation coming up. And most kids aren't dumb. If they're mediocre in an activity and still got some plastic trophy or whatever, the kid knows why he/she got it. This "older complaining about younger" chain will never break though. Hell, I might be whining about participation trophies when I'm 50.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

I'm currently rolling my eyes up into my skull.

I was in a little bowling league as a child 25 years ago. Everyone who participated in said league received a trophy, hence, participation trophy. That's not some brand new thing that you get to attach to this generation coming up. And most kids aren't dumb. If they're mediocre in an activity and still got some plastic trophy or whatever, the kid knows why he/she got it. This "older complaining about younger" chain will never break though. Hell, I might be whining about participation trophies when I'm 50.

It's funny that the older generation likes to complain about participation trophies when they are the ones that have been handing them out for decades. How about you stop bitching about it and stop handing them out then? Don't have the balls to do it? Then shut the **** up.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I'm 34 and move around quite a bit in the payroll field. I was managing payroll operations at a fortune 300 at 31 but got tired of the grind. Then I find a mythical non manager job got almost 6 figures and give that up because I'm bored of doing so much data entry and Lower level stuff. So now I'm back supervising at a large company. I give it 6 to 12 months before I get the itch again. Idk if it's something in my generation, the great resignation era, or what, but longetivity is lacking for many in my field nowadays.

I can only imagine how early to mid 20s are lol my age range on steroids.

 

[TortElvisII]

I'm 34 and move around quite a bit in the payroll field. I was managing payroll operations at a fortune 300 at 31 but got tired of the grind. Then I find a mythical non manager job got almost 6 figures and give that up because I'm bored of doing so much data entry and Lower level stuff. So now I'm back supervising at a large company. I give it 6 to 12 months before I get the itch again. Idk if it's something in my generation, the great resignation era, or what, but longetivity is lacking for many in my field nowadays.

I can only imagine how early to mid 20s are lol my age range on steroids.

You usually have jobs lined up before you leave though, right? I guess I'm not used to the new economy. A lot of the people I'm talking about didn't have anything lined up.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

I worked in college athletics for just over a month as a AT and we were working 80+ hours a week 7 days a week. It’s a job you have to want to do, there’s little reward if your team doesn’t win.

Turnover in that and sports information/media relations (which is what I worked in) is going thru the roof. I keep up with the schools that were in the conference I used to work in at two different schools, the caliber of person that are getting these sports info jobs is strikingly worse than it was 5 years ago. A lot of quality people getting out and putting their skills to use in other professions for better pay, better working conditions, and better quality of life and doing some freelancing on the side for a premium rate.

Unless you REALLY love the work, just get in there for the experience then get out first chance you can get a better job if the situation is right. I had gotten to the point where I had to get out ASAP for my own health. Best decision I ever made. After a couple months out, some of the health problems I had just went away for the most part. I figured those things must have been my body's physical response to stress.

 

[gamecockcat]

Your last sentence hits the nail on the head. An entire generation has been raised by parents who always handle their problems so they don't get 'stressed', help/do their homework so the kid doesn't have to work so hard, don't require the kid to have a job at 16 or even throughout college because it's too hard to juggle a job, school and all the social time a kid wants, etc.

I did it, too, to some extent. But I never did my kid's homework. If they flunked an exam or failed to turn something in, they owned it. I didnt call the teacher to ask for special treatment. Actions had consequences.

Worked with a women whose daughter was in college. My friend typed up her papers, corrected misspellings, edited or discussed ways of improving her homework, etc. One semester, her daughter took a class that required a 5 page paper instead of a final exam. On the syllabus and every student knew it. Daughter never got started, never got started. Come Finals Week, daughter was 'too stressed' to complete the paper, got a note from her GP and her professor have her 120 days after the semester to turn it in.

Her future employer will not be so understanding, I'm guessing.