there is no way to harness us, we have infiltrated your system, and are taking over. ha, ha, ha (evil diabolical laugh)!

The scary part is that the system (after being infiltrated by the diabolically laughing Gen Yers) might come to a screeching halt because of their lack of ability to make decisions without instructions and/or the permissions found in the structured environments of play dates, scheduled recreation, etc. Alas, they will have a steep learning curve, especially in industries that require initiative and tenacious drive. But like everyone else they will get through it just fine once they are motivated by ambition and money. Then they can join the rest of us in complaining about the next generation.

How about a good hard spanking and then confining them to their cube for the rest of the day.

Hold It --
Danielle, I'm curious about your research on this generation -- or why this one starts in 1979 -- and I'd point you to this excellent resource on generational dynamics (and marketing):

http://www.genimperative.com/meet.html

Its founder has done tons of research on the "5 Living Generations." Name of Chuck Underwood.

Maybe in my part of the country (S.Dakota; seriously) everyone just has a more hardcore work ethic, but every Millenial in my shop is relentlessly self-driven, reliable and focused. Your indictment really has way more to do with the Boomer moms and dads. To wit: "a generation...advocated for." So take a harder look at the advocates.

Meantime, Underwood points out (in work you have to pay for to see, and I have) that Millenials actually have way more in common with the WW II Generation than mine. I'm Gen X, and my folks were Boomers too -- but we're miles apart in what makes our respective generations unique.

And by the way, Underwood would argue that, actually, it was the Boomer generation was the "most advocated for." Email me for details. Very cool stuff.

I'm sorry for being so vague on this...but since reading this post this morning...this has haunted me all day...

I read??/saw on TV?? a story about colleges having troubles with Millenials/GenY parents interfering in "college life". Some univeristies going so far as to ban parents from campus and saying that the kids were going to have to learn to live on their own at some point.

Did I dream this...or can someone else clarify?

I find your characterization offensive. I'm Gen Y, a college grad, and have had a professional job for several years. I have never heard of any of my friends having their parents interfere with their work. I don't know these people. I do know a lot of fiercely independent people, who left home once and don't plan to return.
If this interference does happen, it's a return to tribalism, which might not be so bad in this disconnected world.

Chris - you aren't dreaming it. I read a similar article in the Sunday paper and was astounded.

I have witnessed parents that I thought were too involved in their adult children's lives, but not to the extent that they called professors and supervisors to complain about grades and reviews.

As a parent, I understand what it is like to want to protect and shelter your children, but at some point, you have to let them learn how to make decisions and live their own lives. I believe that it is possible to do this and still have a meaningful relationship with your children.

"But like everyone else they will get through it just fine once they are motivated by ambition and money." There is more to life than false ambition and money. I was born in 1980. I watched my parents make their lives a cycle of hard work and television. I'm not aggressive at work, I don't do overtime or make a lot of money. But I do my job well, and consider pay raises an additional bonus. It's unrealistic to expect I will work at the same company for more than 5 years during my life. I've watched a generation scrimp and save, and move up the ladder, with little to show for it. Even though I work for someone else, in reality I work for myself. I can see how this might seem "inadequate" in your system, but lets see who's on top when your system is replaced by ours.

Isn't it about time we stopped confusing marketing segmentation (brought to us by countless vested interests) with business reality? Gen Y is entering the fray during enormous global upheaval. We need to be smart about supporting them and they need to bring their unique contributions to the table. There is not one minute left for this kind of self-absorbed, competitive navel-gazing.

This article is on the mark. I am a Gen-Xer and over the past several years I've seen Boomers who can’t stay out of their children’s' lives. I heard coworkers spend significant amounts of time on the phone at work intervening (advocating, saving, pushing) their children on trivial issues. Excessive parental involvement is an issue that impacts the parents' organizations—not just companies that hire Millennials/Gen-Y. If parents respect their children, they would give their adult children the freedom to make choices and allow them to experience their consequences.

Well maybe these little brat Gen Yers will annoy the old fart Baby Boomers into retiring so us loafing Gen Xers can start moving up the ranks of management. ;)

Here's a great resource on managing Gen Y labor, in HBS' Working Knowledge:

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4429&t=organizations

Basically, we are the video game generation. We like solving puzzles, we like challenging problems, and we really don't think there's anything we can't do.

My retired father works at walmart and one of his co-workers, a gen-Yer was a terrible employee, always rude and yelling at people. His mother called his boss and tried to tell him to take it easy on him. This kid is 19 so I was astonished.

I am a gen X/Yer. My mom loves to get involved with my work. I have to plead with her to stay out of it. I have lost two jobs because I was immature. These were high paying engineering jobs. I do share the sentiments of some of my fellow X/Yers, in that money is not the key motivator. However, I am now in law school, so I guess I have gotten over that. In fact my mom made the suggestion that I go to law school. Part of the reason that I got so frustrated at my prior jobs was because I could not budget well, and my mom kept nagging me about it. It drove me nuts. I think the main advantage we have is growing up with computers in our homes. I was programming video games when I was 12 years old. Now I have an electrical engineering degree, and am on my way to a law degree. If thats not motivated enough I don't know what is. In fact at both of the jobs I lost I was given excellent job reviews and raises. I only lost the jobs because I was yelling at people for being lazy!

This generation will be the first generation left in the dust by hungry, aggressive, kids in developing countries such as China and India.

If the parent(s) of one of my employees called me about there "baby", the parent would be warned, the "baby" would be warned, that if it happened again they would be out!

Excellent comments, Pete Tousignant

The whole concept op segmentation is being discussed in current management literature as we speak. The new generation (of consumers, hence everyone) is not to be type casted easily.

I think that a considerable part of "Gen Y" is probably lazy and dependent. This will contribute to the succes of relatively more hard-working and ambitious Asian countries, such as India and China. Gen Y (if there is such a thing) thinks they will be alright: don't fix what's not broken. But I am afraid they (majority of Gen Y, AND THEIR PARENTS) are wrong, this mentality of thinking they have right to this an that and god knows what, is one of the Wests' (US and EU) biggest threats.

We DON'T have the right to be wealthy and spoiled. We need to earn it, as in wealth comes from hard and dedicated work, not from being born in a wealthy country.

Problem is, kids are raised (at least in Europe) to be dependent and with the idea that it will be okay if they do not finish first. Too bad, I think....

As with any generational handoff, there will always be skeptics who are unwilling to pass their responsibilities down to the younger generations. The Boomers did it with GenX and GenX will do it with GenY. Each generation is a dynamic with their own qualities that will change the face of the world and until they have the chance to take control and prove their worth, they will always be looked at by some as inadequate.

Consider this... the generation that worries about how the business world will look when the next generation takes control most likely will have passed on before the changes take effect(either to another field or retirement). They simply want to protect their own interests until they are ready for that transition and understandably so but as history has proven, each generation, with their hang-ups and differences, has taken over with extraordinary results and I believe GenY will be no different.

I find this set of comments ridiculous. It seems to me that my Y generation is more independent than the 'boomers' ever were. I am a young entrepreneur, still in college and in business for myself. The boomer generation has taught us (if anything) that the corporation is not going to take care of us forever, career changes are usually good, and that we are not entitled to anything, we must work for it. Unfortunately the boomers didn't teach us this on purpose, we had to learn from your miserable example.

I also read the article that appeared in the USA Today a few weeks back about the over-involvment of parents in their college students' lives. With two friends working in residence life at two very large universities, I hear about the growing problem all the time. But we have two sides of the spectrum because some students are overly dependent on their parents and some are fiercely independent to the point that parents have no idea what is going on.

More school districts need to reintroduce life skills into the curriculum. Many of these kids do not know how to do the simple things like managing a budget, preparing a meal, setting up a meeting with a professor or placing a formal complaint about something. They do know how to say "mamma" whenever something is not going their way. It is what they were taught, so the problem requires a look at both the parents and the children if it is to be corrected.

Yikes, I'm a 53 year-old geezer and I work in an office full of these folk!

In fact, we hire them with reckless abandon, because almost without exception, the ones we've found, far from feeling "entitled" tend to see the world as tough place and they really appreciate judiously applied mentoring.

Yea, I have to listen to the clatter of foosball a couple of times a day and we frequently have to call a halt to the use of company bandwidth for playing Internet radio and movie downloads (actually, our 20-something system admin called me to task the other day for hogging bandwidth with my audible.com download!) but the flip side is amazing!

These young people are so smart it is sometimes unbelievable. And, here is the really cool part, they don't know what they can't do.

We have, in 18 months, built and released an enterprise level business tool that is now deployed in 4 countries in three languages with a development and marketing staff of fewer than 20, half of whom fit your demographic!

Give me Millenials anytime. Yea, they are used to being pampered by mom and dad, but they are smart, fast learners who love to please!

We love 'em!

If everything you need is placed in front of you and all you have to do is take it, you will never learn how to reach. If parents over indulge their children they deminish the childs basic motives to want,to dream and desire, and will render an apathetic and unmotivated individual.

I don't know where to start. Oh, how about here:

Warning! Shameless self promotion coming!

This is all I've been thinking about for the last year. I'm co-authoring a book with Neil Howe and Bill Strauss called "Millennials in the Workplace" (due out this Spring) and I can't tell you how on-target most of these comments are.

When I talk to employers and tell them that they will eventually give a Millennial worker a bad performance appraisal and then get a call from their parents, I get the universal jaw drop. And now I have evidence. I can't thank you enough.

The other anecdote I've heard from high school and college career counselors is this piece of advice: "if you interview for the job and don't get it, your parents can't call the employer and chew them out."

Here's a line I've written, before editing, for the book: Quite unlike the Gen-Xers who preceded them, today’s Millennials perceive that they’re part of a special group of young people. Older generations have instilled in them the sense that they are collectively vital to the nation and individually vital to their parents’ sense of purpose. If corporations and organizations try to impress on this generation of workers that they are only there to serve the profit-driven desires of the companies, these same employers may be surprised by a backlash.

I'll write more later. I've got a list of key points from the book I'd like to post, but I have to check with my co-authors.

Bob Filipczak

The idiots that are offended by this article are an example of just what the article is attacking, over-sensitivity and weakness brought on by bad parenting. I was born in 1979 and totally agree with the characterization made in the article. Like some of the other posters here, I'm doing my own thing with business and am highly motivated. Clearly there are exceptions to every rule. Danielle is not saying every last person born in the said date range is an over-sensitive emotional weakling, she's saying there is a trend that is most apparent in people born during that time. Luckily I wasn't one of the kids who had over-involved parents that saw me as the center of the universe. I'm not bragging on myself because it was my parents that taught me you actually have to do your job to get paid for it and that throwing tantrums wasn't the way to move up in the world. I noticed while growing up the ridiculous behavior of parents in sports and school. If their kid sucked at a sport, they still demanded that their child play just as much as anyone else so they wouldn't feel bad. If their kid didn't get the position they wanted on the team, the parents went to the coach, complained, and often got their way. In school, if a kid was punished for misbehaving, parents would complain to school officials and often get their punishments reduced or even eliminated. Same goes for grades. My sister is a teacher and with each new year, she has more and more parents calling or actually going to the school to complain about their children getting bad grades or being punished for misbehaving. They will go so far as to threaten legal action but since their claims are baseless and most of the world still abides by the "if you get an F on everything, you get an F in the class" idea, the threats never go anywhere. I do think it is a bit ridiculous to call them a "generation." It seems as if every year, children become weaker and weaker. Here's another sports example. When I was growing up and playing baseball, I'd never see a kid cry when they lost a close game or when they didn't get to play. I remember one single child crying, and that was because his finger tip exploded when his finger got hit by a pitch and crushed between the ball and his bat, a reasonable time for a child to cry. My father coaches my 10 year old nephew's team now and several of the children will burst into tears if they make an error or if they lose a close game. Sports will often mimic life and I think it is just one example of the extreme weakening of children today that is brought on by parents teaching their children that if you just cry or complain enough, everything will go your way. I remember the days when "there's no crying in baseball!!!" was actually true, I miss it!

Danielle, you're right on the money, its nice to hear someone point out such a massive problem in today's society.

A very provocative conversation. It is an absolute imperative that generations learn to not only live and work together but value and embrace both the positive and negative attributes of each other. I am suggesting that we go way beyond tolerance here.
Another resource is an organization called Gentrends, www.gentrends.com.
Some further thought also needs to be given not to generational factors but also life stage issues. As many are probably aware, there has recently been identified a life staged coined as emerging adulthood. Similar to adolescence, the proponents of this identification, propose that instead of generational, emerging adulthood is a newly developed stage of life which will be encountered and navigated by each coming generation. The most significant proponent of this thinking is Jeffery Arnett from the University of Maryland.

Can we please get over the issue of over-involved parents? This has been a problem since the beggining of time. There will always be mothers/fathers who feel it is their duty or right to govern their children's life...whether they are 5 years old or 35. Not too long ago it was custom for parents to choose their children's mates, children were expected to go into their family's business. This is absolutely nothing new. The only modern twist is that we have more children (i.e. female children) in the work force and we're now talking about some of these issues with candor.

Rick,

Don't you think this new emerging "life stage" is the result of parents that create an "everything's okay" atmosphere for their kids? Where they are bailed out of every tough situation in their lives which in turns makes them emotional weaklings and subject to additional "life stages."

I think the more validity we give to ideas like "oh look, there is a new life stage now" the more validity we give to this unacceptable behavior.

Ok, from we can see... Questions:

1) Mom / Pop Controller
2) Shy children.

Perhaps too much nintendo.

To think that people think I'm too harsh for making my 5 year-old daughter (1999) have consequences for her actions. Today's society would probably put me away for child abuse if they knew that I had 'grounded' her for drawing on the wall.

I'm all for the end of the 'me' generation.

If you are offended by the comments, perhaps you should have your mommy call the Internet and have them taken off.

Any Gen-Y'er who is reading this post is most likely a motivated individual whom is constantly focused on learning more in life. Our generation has been placed in a global marketplace where knowledge is the answer. The reason it is difficult for us to make decisions is due to the sad fact that some of you older folk just don't get it. [Posted by: Warren Nelson at October 13, 2005 10:10 AM :: We have, in 18 months, built and released an enterprise level business tool that is now deployed in 4 countries in three languages with a development and marketing staff of fewer than 20, half of whom fit your demographic! ]

This type of environment is built around the Gen-Y'ers. We don't make decisions yet because we are still learning. How many Gen-Y'ers out there are in a position of power at any measurable level ?
Born in 79' probley not a decision maker as of yet.

I have purchased a home, paid off my student loans and a car. Set up a college fund for my unborn son and a retirement fund for myself. Did our parents have this all figured out at the ripe old age of "early twenty something" my guess is no.

Many of us are bored, we want more out of life than a desk. We want continued eduacation in the workplace, better hours, more family focus etc...

I don't think that is asking for too much do you?

A really interesting piece of background on the different generations and their affect on society and culture is "The Forth Turning" by,Strauss and Howe which applies generational theories to historical cycles. They validate most of the previous information both anecdotal and factual. I have found their work to be very helpful no matter what Gen I'm dealing with. The one behind mine, or in front of mine, or two removed from mine! Well worth investigating if you want to see how/why we as generations make the political, social, cultural decisions we do. Including the supposedly overindulged/protected Y'ers.
http://www.fourthturning.com/

This is fascinating! I am a high school teacher and see and hear this all too frequently. I plan to read some of these comments to my seniors tomorrow morning. Thank you "G" for your comments and Danielle for this important conversation starter. I am proud to say, that I teach a Personal Finance class and believe it is one of the best classes they can take. I never hear, "When am I EVER going to use this??"

Yep. I've seen it. In fact I was asked to prepare a powerpoint presentation for one of these kids by my boss. Seems that her boy couldn't get a job on his own so we had to do his homework for him.

Funny...he still isn't working...

What a bogus label. Gen-X. Gen-Y. I just don't see it. I've worked closely with hundreds of people during my career and I've run into as many childish, bratty, incompetent 50-somethings as I have brilliant, hard-working, insightful twenty-somethings. Are there cultural differences? Sure, but they are more about how they experience the world than the role they play in shaping it.

i guess my parents invested in the laissez faire model of parenting... I don't think I belong to some generation that some other generation made...

OMG!

I was cynical about this post in my first comment above, but just now one of our hard-working, intelligent Millenials brought in bagels & cream cheese -- compliments of her mom.

Was Moms trying to curry favor for Sweet Pea?

It worked....

(If there's such thing as an "appropriately involved parent," I think I just found one).

Every new generation of workers faces criticisms about their work ethics and abilities until they have the opportunity to prove what they can do. Generation Y is no different.

I am not a generation yer but work with many people who are from that generation.

I work in the human resources office of a company and actually hear a lot more whining and complaining from the older folks and baby boomers because they believe that they are entitled to certain things.

I also work a part-time job where 50 percent or more of the employees are under 20 and they are just as hardworking, if not more so, than the older employees.

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a lot of young people over the years and have seen them grow up and become integrated as hard working, productive members of society.

Some of the traits that are prevalent among the generation yers are; being smart, tech savvy, generosity, caring, good ethics, open minded, kindness, politeness, tenacity, optimism, being good team players and unselfishness. Although they can be quite opinionated at times and less than obedient, that can actually be a good thing because they are not afraid to challenge the status quo and can provide organizations and individuals with the impetus necessary to think and develop innovation and change.

This is the group that has been the most open and accepting that I’ve encountered since coming to the United States 28 years ago. This group doesn’t judge individuals on their race, creed, or some such criteria; but rather, relate to others as individuals, forming strong bonds based on common interest and similar personality traits. I am happy to count many generations yers amongst my friends.

I volunteer with the Hagerstown Area Youth Soccer League (HAYSL, http://www.haysl.net) in Hagerstown, Maryland and we count several young men and women as volunteers. These individuals provide challenge and inspiration to the rest of us because they are so dedicated and devote so much time and energy to benefit others.

I have also worked with other organizations, such as churches, homeless, etc. where I have seen how generation yers have worked tirelessly to benefit others and have brought new ideas and challenges to those organizations.

I am inspired daily by these young people to do a little more than I think I can do in everything that I do, be it work or volunteering. When I observe and work beside young individuals who lead such busy lives, attend school, hold jobs, and still find the time and energy to devote their weekends to volunteering; I feel that I can do no less. Furthermore, they do it with a smile on their face and offer encouragement and kind words to others who might be struggling.

So much for the myth of the selfish generation. As in every group there are some exceptions, but for the most part, generation yers are great torch bearers of the future for humanity. The future is indeed in good hands.

If you're having a problem with young employees who can't leave Mommy's skirts then you are hiring losers. Stop hiring second generation suburbanites who look pretty and went to expensive private colleges.

I guarantee that Gen Y entry level professionals who grew up rural or inner city are *not* having a problem with parents calling their bosses.

Non-conventional programs typically refer to FHA and VA loans