lifestyle

"Gen Y can't win. And I've had enough."

 

Enough with the Gen Y bashing. Please.

You know the stereotype: Gen Ys are a giant pack of bratty, entitled narcissists, right?

We only interact through social media, and we’re determined to be carefree kidults FOREVER – preferably from the rent-free comfort of our parents’ home, of course.

We’re not buying houses because we’re too busy taking selfies to “get a good job that pays good money” (hello, Joe Hockey).

And we’re destroying the workplace (and the world, while we’re at it) by having the balls to demand fulfilling careers (with regular promotions, thanks).

I get it, I get it. We CAN be kind of irritating – what with our man buns and our penchant for Tinder and organic cider and all.

Every second week there seems to be another yawn-worthy, ranty article published in the mainstream media about how we Millennials are destroying the very social fabric for one reason or another.

But at least, at the very least, the criticism we’ve copped from Gen X and the Baby Boomers so far has been pretty consistent.

Ever since we’ve swapped high school for the workplace, we’ve heard the same complaints about our attitude.

I mean, how very dare we expect meaningful jobs with work/life balance? Who do we think we are, wanting promotions and halfway decent salaries and refusing to get stuck in the same dead end job for decades on end? The nerve!

But the thing is, Gen Y can’t win. Because recently, I read about a new survey which apparently showed that Gen Y was ACTUALLY a group of “pushovers and yes employees” at work.

Wait, what?

Surely now you’re just punking us.

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I mean, what is it? Are we too demanding, or not demanding enough?

Are we too arrogant, or too accommodating?

WHAT KIND OF SICK MIND GAMES ARE YOU PLAYING ON US?

On the Mamamia Out Loud podcast, Gen Y boss-lady Jamila Rizvi had it out with her boss, Gen X Mia Freedman, over the constant nitpicking and stereotyping.  It was definitely not a “yes employee” moment:

According to the LinkedIn survey of 1000 Aussies, 65 per cent of 18-24-year-olds described themselves as “yes employees” (compared to 32 per cent of Baby Boomers), with 28 per cent saying they would agree with their boss even if they thought they were wrong (compared to 10 per cent of Baby Boomers). And apparently, because we’re all so lovely and accommodating, it’s hurting our careers.

*Eye-roll*.

So I’m done. Out. Finished. Because by now it’s pretty clear that we’re screwed if we do, screwed if we don’t – and it’s getting REALLY boring.

So older generations, you can keep your contradictory smack downs and constant, constant nit-picking.

And Gen Ys? Just remember that one day, we’ll be picking these guys’ nursing homes…

 

Here’s some more Gen Y stereotypes, just for lols.

 

Are you a believer in Gen Y stereotypes?

Want more? Try these:

Hey Gen X, stop telling Gen Y we are precocious arseholes. Thanks.

4 Gen Y’s and 2 Gen X’s battle it out for which generation is better to work with.

“Excuse me for crying Gen Y, but I’m going to.”