...Generation Y in the Workforce: Managerial Challenges Justin Meier, Graduate Student Stephen F. Austin State University, USA Mitchell Crocker, Associate Professor of Management Stephen F. Austin State University, USA ABSTRACT This paper takes a look at the next generation, Generation Y, as it enters the workforce. Nearly all Gen Y research to date focused on characteristics and features drawn from a population still in the midst of the educational system. This research specifically targets Gen Y’ers that have been in the workforce for a few years. Data collection incorporated current technologies such as the social networking website Facebook to invite age-appropriate respondents to participate in this study. Participants completed the survey instrument on-line using a link to Survey Monkey. The data analysis focuses on those workplace issues that act as motivators or de-motivators for this generation. GENERATION Y IN THE WORKFORCE: MANAGERIAL CHALLENGES Toward Understanding Gen Y. What defines a generation? Through the years a number of different things such as wars, discoveries, politics, beliefs, and popular culture have all helped shape and define generations. The characteristics attributed to an age-bound demographic are often reflections of the events occurring in the world around them. While agreement on a definition may be lacking, through a combination of thoughts and ideas, educators can agree on certain aspects of each generation. A generation can influence styles...
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...Running head: GENERATIONS IN THE WORKFORCE 1 Generations in the Workforce John Johnson and Jack Smith Liberty University GENERATIONS IN THE WORKFORCE Abstract Single paragraph, double-spaced, not indented, and between 150 and 250 words. Keywords: employee attitudes, personnel management, age factors 2 GENERATIONS IN THE WORKFORCE Generations in the Workforce 3 Researchers have tried to categorize employees into contemporary work cohorts based on the eras in which they started working (Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 119). Robbins and Judge (2009) observed that since the average age to enter the workforce is between 18 and 23, the cohorts are loosely based on the chronological age of their demographic and ostensibly reflect the dominant values and job attitudes of their representative generations (p.119). This paper is a systematic discussion of three topics related to contemporary work cohorts: (a) the reality and specifics of the management issues associated with having a multigenerational employee base, (b) the profiles of each of the four generations that compose the workforce today, and (c) advice for company leadership on turning the diverse perspectives of a cross-generational workforce from challenge into advantage. The Significance of the Generational Gap at the Workplace The fact that the phrase “generational gap” is part of everyday vocabulary, suggest that the phrase denotes something real, which makes the theory appear prima facie true. Furthermore...
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...They have used technology all their lives right from their school through their college years (Rao, 2013.). Another positive work-related characteristic of Gen Y is that they are ambitious. Often I have had to be slowed down because I am so anxious to get my job done and move onto the next activity. Gen Y’s expectations need to be tempered sometimes. Gen Y is also more likely be a team player. They often want to be involved with whatever is going on, and they will do almost anything to be able to be included in whatever is going on. I’d say another positive characteristic is that we like to be liked. Personally speaking, I often prefer feedback of how I am doing a job. I prefer being often told how I am doing so I can make adjustments if necessary. As for the negative characteristics, Douglas Main says in his article that Millennials have been characterized in a number of different ways. On the negative side, they've been described as lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job (Main, 2013.). I am not sure I agree with that that is a negative thing. I know many of my generation have trouble finding a job in their interest or field, and they get tired of working in places that they aren’t passionate about. That leads them to finding other jobs until they can land a job they love. Negative characteristics about Gen Y is that many times, they are self-centered and think everything is about themselves. Also, many believe that they are always more intelligent than the next...
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...Resource Management Term Paper Tata Case 1) Are they ethical? Can they be trusted? There are many myths about Gen Y that they are lazy, casual and lack work ethics but in reality it is not so. We cannot generalize the statement. In order to understand whether Gen-Y are ethical and they can be trusted or not, it is important to know Gen-Y and its characteristics. It refers to the generation of people born between the early 1980s and the early 1990. It is also known as The Millennial. Gen-Y is hard driven, tech savvy, ambitious, and well aware of the social context of their life and their work. Sure, they want money and stuff, but they also value the communal and social aspects of their lives. Everyone would agree that talent is the lifeblood of any organisation. Without young, aggressive, dynamic people no company can thrive because these people bring new ideas. Other positives adjectives to describe them include confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living. Gen-Y has a strong work ethic though they don't want traditional schedule from 9 to 5. Gen-Y wants work to be fun and flexible because the line between work and life is seamless. Gen-Y believes in the mantra of working smarter, not harder. The employers must offer flexible working schedule to provide effective work culture that is pleasant and positive. Gen-Y population has a sense of belonging to communities .They are joiners. They want to be with other people who share their...
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...decade, and suggests a taxonomy of ambition, altruism, affiliation and anxiety to synthesise the diversity of previous research and reach a coherent conclusion: all are on the rise for Gen Y. Directions for future research and recommendations for organisations are discussed. News articles regularly demand that we pay attention to the different needs of the next generation and their attitudes towards work. Last week the Sydney Morning Herald claimed that “Generation Y . . . has high expectations of their employers, seek out new challenges, are not afraid to question authority, value teamwork, seek the affirmation of others, crave attention and want to be included and involved” (Zavos, 2010). Other stereotypes of Gen Y, including Myers & Sadaghiani (2010), pitch them as self-centred, unmotivated, disrespectful and disloyal. There have been many articles and books in “popular literature” that describe differences between the generations, including Strauss & Howe (1991), Howe, Strauss & Matson (2000), Lancaster & Stillman (2002), Trunk (2007) and O’Connell (2008). However, as both Giancola (2006) and Twenge & Campbell (2008) observe, few of these publications provide empirical data to back their claims. For example, Strauss and Howe (1991) make the unsubstantiated assertion that Gen Xers were more likely to be anxious or depressed because they were...
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...Managing the Generations Billy Henderson Prior Learning Essay Dr. David Williams February 28, 2012 Managing the Generations Managing employees can come easy to some managers, but one part of managing workers is a little more difficult than a manager figure, and that is managing the different generations. In August of 2011 I was able to attend training for supervisors and managers that showed them the difference in the generations in the workforce. This was the first part of a three part training that we will be required to attend. For the first time in the history of the U.S. there are four different generations in the workforce. (Zemke, Raines & Filipazak, 2000) The first thing that I am going to discuss is four basic managing styles. Autocratic management style was the first management style that we covered. The autocratic management style is considered the classical approach to management. With this style managers try to have and keep the authority and decision making themselves without depending on other workers. During the past 30 years this style of management has been criticized do to the higher turnover rate in organizations. These type of managers want things done their way with no questions asked, and do not want to listen to anyone, it is either their way or no way. This style is used in the Military and during crisis management situations where this style would work the best. (Foong) The next management style is a Bureaucratic Management Style. This...
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...CSGB6101 Human Capital Management MANAGING GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE WORKPLACE CASE STUDY OF FELDA Prepared by GROUP 3 : Name | Matrix No. | Phone. No. | E.Mail Address | Khadijah Mohamad Radzi | CGA130056 | 019-6795231 | khadijah.fahim@gmail.com | Nasira Banu Rahim Khan | CGA130106 | 019-3612038 | nasira@bnm.gov.my | Yu Kong Cing | CGA120010 | 012-6842818 | kcyu@fella.com.my | Prepared for DR. MOHAMMAD NAZRI BIN MOHD. NOR Submission Date: 15 May 2014 Due Date: 19 May 2014 Word Count: 3859 Content | Page | 1.0 Executive Summary | 1 | 2.0 Background of Study | 2-6 | 3.0 Problem Statement | 6-8 | 4.0 Research Question | 8 | 5.0 Objectives of Study | 8 | 6.0 Literature Review | 8-9 | 7.0 Discussion | 9-12 | 8.0 Recommendation | 12-15 | 9.0 Conclusion | 15 | 10.0 References | 16 | 11.0 Appendix 1 – Organizational Chart | | 1.0 Executive Summary The purpose of this paper is to study the differences and similarities of four generations of FELDA workers and the implication of it to the organization’s competitiveness. FELDA has been chosen for the study because it is a unique organization involved widely in business as well as community development in 319 Felda Settlements. With a total employee of 3,990 people working locally and overseas...
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...MBA5608 Managing People for Competitive Advantage in Asia Unit Schedule Meeting | Date* | Topic | Preparation | 1 | April 18 (Sat.) | * What is this unit about? * Whom do you manage? * What is evidence-based management? Why? How? * How to read a Harvard-style case? | Unit GuideBarends et al. (2014) | | | Managing self * What is the difference between a manager and a leader? * What is your personality? * How does personality affect job performance? * How do you influence others? Power, influence and political skills Introduction to Simulation: Judgement in Crisis | Get your Big-Five scores (Berkeley Lab)Case: Thomas Green | 2 | April 21 (Tue.) | Managing self: Individual decision making * Neuroscience and decision making * Heuristics * Cognitive biases * Debriefing to simulation exercise | Guest speaker: Prof. Alexandre Schaefer, Neuroscientist, Monash MalaysiaPress Release for Simulation: Judgement in Crisis (due on April 19, 12 mid-night) | 3 | April 28 (Tue.) | Developing others: Motivation * Needs theories * Process theories | The puzzle of motivation (Video). TedGlobal. http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation | 4 | May 5 (Tue.) | Developing others: Motivation * Applied performance practices * High performance work systems * The art of giving feedback | The delicate art of giving feedback (https://hbr.org/2013/03/the-delicate-art-of-giving-fee)Video case: Awkward Performance Review | 5 | May 12 (Tue...
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...RETAINING THE GEN Y IN THE WORKFORCE: SOME SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYERS RETAINING THE GEN Y IN THE WORKFORCE: SOME SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYERS Sabri Hassan Assaari RETAINING THE GEN Y IN THE WORKFORCE: SOME SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYERS TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT ABSTRACT PROBLEM STATEMENT WHO IS GEN Y RECRUITING GEN Y TACKLE THE FAMILY MENTORSHIP CHALLENGING WORK WORK LIFE BALANCE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES BENEFITS AND COMPENSATIONS CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES PAGE 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 2 RETAINING THE GEN Y IN THE WORKFORCE: SOME SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYERS Abstract Generation Y or the Millenials are set to take over and revolutionize the world. Born and raised in a significantly different period and global culture compared to their predecessors, they seem to demand more from their employer. This paper present a study on Generation Y characteristic and strategies future employers can adopt to successfully retain them in the organization. Who are the Millenials, what attract them and what it takes to retain them in organizations? And after understanding their traits, what can be done by companies to harness Generation Y special characteristics and abilities for their survivals in the challenging marketplace. In the end this paper try to justify an answer to the question whether is it really important for companies to give extra attention to this Generation Y, or it will be just another passing fad that will lose its importance and forgotten...
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...Recruiting in Labor Markets Case: Who Says the Young are Good Only at Facebook? Question 1: How different are today’s Gen Y employees from others ( Gen X, Baby Boomers, etc.) in terms of their mindset or perspective about work, life, career, and the world? Be specific about how you define Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomers, etc. Question 2: In term of recruitment practices, what adjustments or adaptations should HR managers make to enhance the effectiveness of their recruitment efforts? 1.0 Introduction Different generations have shown different characteristic traits in line with their time's requirements, opportunities and difficulties. They have different expectation, beliefs, lifestyle and work style. People attitudes as well as employees have been shaped by previous generation and current environment where reflected on their mindset or perspective about life. They also feel that they are better than other peers especially when it comes to careers, technology, and lifestyle. In order to resolve the conflict arises from different generation at workplace, the understanding difference generations is a must task in building the successful multigenerational workplace. 2.0 Differences of Generations and Mindset 2.1 Baby Boomers The Baby boomers are all those born in U.S. during the demographic Post–World War II baby boom between 1946 and 1964 and they are predominately in their 40s and 50s. According to Madsen Pirie and Robert M. Worcester (1998), the baby boomers represented...
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...A. When I skipped off to elementary school in the late 1950s, I had no idea that in the years ahead my fellow classmates and I, along with the other 77 million Baby Boomers, would create radical change in American business, education and health care. I didn’t realize then that swapping my sandwich for someone else’s at lunchtime was a new way of thinking, something my parents never considered. I was, after all, part of the generation of choice. Yet as I look at my fellow Boomers today, I realize that the changes we put into motion in that lunchroom decades ago have placed us in today’s board room in a new position. We are the “sandwich leaders,” the first generation squeezed between managing and leading people older than us (Traditionalists) and those following in our footsteps (Generations X and Y). Along the way, we Boomers have met the ultimate challenge -- communicating across generations (now spanning up to four generations in the same workplace), each with different values, beliefs and attitudes. How are we keeping a diverse workplace population interested, motivated and committed to business? This is a question all leaders facing these generational issues must address. They are doing it through communication. Psychologist Dr. Paula Butterfield of Columbus, Ohio, says that working across generations is hard for many managers. “It can challenge beliefs and values they’ve always accepted, and squeeze them between the twin rocks of change and conflict.” The tools they use, especially...
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...boss: Tips for Generation Y. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/315573/Communicating_with_your_boss_Tips_for_Generation_Y Different generations, same objectives . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.camagazine.com/generations/default.aspx Generation Y and the WorkForce. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.workforcecyprus.com/news.php?id=29 How is Generation Y Transforming the Workplace? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hoklife.com/2012/08/28/how-is-generation-y-transforming-the-workplace/ konopaske, j. m. (n.d.). human resource management 12th edition. Managing generational differences has become an increasingly growing area. In today’s diverse and ever changing business environment, it is imperative to the areas of recruitment, retention and engagement for organizations to successfully communicate across generational boundaries. With an age gap of nearly 50 years between the oldest and youngest employees in some organizations, there is a broad range of perspectives, needs and attitudes floating around the office. Today’s workplace is most definitely a multi-generational one – and each generation has its own set of expectations, needs, values and working styles. Employers have to acknowledge the generational tensions their employees may be feeling. To get everyone working together, they need to understand the unique strengths and weaknesses of each generation and identify the points of friction among them. (Generation Y and the WorkForce, n.d.) ...
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...1) Recently, some marketers have noted that it is easier to develop communications programs to Generation X members than Generation Y. Briefly describe the characteristics of Gen X and Gen Y and whether or not you believe this to be true. There is some debate as to whether Gen X’ers (born between 1965-1978) or Gen Y’ers (1978 to 1986) is more easily targeted by marketers. Each of these groups has their own identifying characteristics. Generation X consumers are typically characterized as self-confident, yet distrustful of those of previous generations (and of marketing practices). They also tend to be less optimistic than their Gen Y counterparts. They are demanding consumers, less concerned with brand names and image and more concerned with quality. Gen Y consumers love to spend. They process information quickly, are quick to adopt new technologies and are more optimistic about the future. In the eyes of some, they are “shameless consumers”. Compared to Gen X they are less rooted in social mores, and buy because they like to do so. While marketers may argue that Gen X is hard to relate to and more cynical and skeptical than the Y’ers, once you have their trust, they will become loyal and remain so—making them an attractive segment. The key is getting their trust. On the other hand, reaching Gen Y is not as hard. They will buy based on wants rather than needs, focus on image and brands, and consume as a way of life. They are easier to reach given a proliferation of media—particularly...
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...PIET-MBA (SEM-2) Submitted to-Wg.Cdr.V.K.Agrawal By-Niren K. Shah (50) Human Resource Management Workforce The workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in manual labour. It may also mean all those that are available for work. Workers may be unionised, whereby the union conducts negotiations regarding pay and conditions of employment. In the event of industrial unrest, unions provide a co-ordinating role in organising ballots of the workforce, and strike action. Workforce management (WFM) encompasses all the activities needed to maintain a productive workforce. Under the umbrella of human resource management, WFM is sometimes referred to as HRMS systems, or even part of ERP systems. Recently, the concept of workforce management has begun to evolve into workforce optimisation. Specifically, workforce management includes * Payroll and benefits * HR administration * Employee self-services * Time and attendance * Career and succession planning / talent acquisition * Talent management and/or applicant tracking * Learning management and/or training management * Performance management * Forecasting and scheduling * Workforce tracking and emergency assist * Absence management Workforce...
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...MG409-AC TR 11:AM-12:15PM CASE 1 1) Challenges from managing the human resource differences between the Navy sector and the public sector employees because the size and responsibility of the Navy. The Navy’s recruiting goal is 37,000 annually and maintaining a 600,000 workforce. They then have to train these employees in specialized positions, help them with education goals, and manage their career for the next four to six years. Then recruit them again by trying to convince then to reenlist, become a reserve or serve as a civilian on the base. While completing all this HR department of the Navy must maintain performance appraisals, compensation plans, discipline and dismissal along with retirement for all members. 2) Economic, technological, and cultural environment affects human resource management in the Navy and other branches of armed forces. Economic factors coincide with retention rates, as the economic downfalls began in the USA the retention of the soldiers in the Navy became greater causing a surplus. The Navy is experiencing a shortage in qualified sailors in several areas due to technological challenges. They have to be verified in that area to work it. Culture effects the management of the Navy as well. When they lifted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy allowing homosexuals to be in the military as long as they were not openly gay, they know have to approach with caution. 3)...
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