Web Worker Daily

Employee Evolution - What Gen Y Wants From Work says: July 16th, 2007 2:37pm

[...] Cross-posted as a guest over at Web Worker Daily. [...]

joshmaher says: July 16th, 2007 2:46pm

Great post! It is interesting because a lot of the big companies are realizing this vast number of potential entrepreneurs that are growing up right now. The likes of MS are targeting them with name recognition via things like xBox & zune…. see: http://joshmaher.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/more-microsoft-strategy/

Gen Y, What Are They Thinking? at ~/my-other-beans says: July 16th, 2007 2:56pm

[...] like the new generation of workers are always perceived as the “slacker generation.” In this post, Ryan Healy tells us what he thinks his generation is looking in a working [...]

This is so true [article] « Jay’s Blog says: July 16th, 2007 5:17pm

[...] July 17, 2007 at 8:17 am · Filed under http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/07/16/guest-post-what-gen-y-wants-from-work/ [...]

JK says: July 16th, 2007 5:33pm

You lost me at “given the reins…” You’ll have to pry them from my cold dead hands, you arrogant, entitled little bastard.

DRONE says: July 16th, 2007 5:59pm

Article makes it sound like the corporate culture would be willing to cooperate with this entrepreneurial approach to day to day work.

They aren’t.

If they can’t disqualify you in the interview, they’ll find the darkest grayest cubicle to put you in. There will be no raises, no promotions and no success. It will be a joyless skull-hammering siege every single day until you get fired.

That’s the way it is. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. If you plan on a career, don’t plan on a job.

Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Guest Post: What Gen Y Wants from Work « « Island in the Net says: July 16th, 2007 7:22pm

[...] 16th, 2007 by Khurt Wow! This is one awesome post! It almost reads like a manifesto. Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Guest Post: What Gen Y Wants from Work « In other words, companies must feed our urge to jump ship and start a business, by giving us the [...]

sdfas says: July 16th, 2007 8:43pm

jameskeylim says: July 16th, 2007 11:02pm

It’s a great post. As with many things in our quickly changing business environment. Some will adopt and some will outright prevent it from happening. As we’ve seen time and time again, the companies that adopt will lead the way to tomorrow. The others will only follow.

Once Again, I’m Talkin’ Bout My Generation « Chasing the Southern Cross says: July 16th, 2007 11:17pm

[...] on this post on Web Worker Daily, I knew I was going to have to blog about it.  Entitled “What Gen Y Wants From Work“, it’s a guest post by Ryan Healy from Employee Evolution, a site dedicated to the [...]

Mads Kristensen » Blog arkiv » Kan vi overleve trange tider? says: July 17th, 2007 1:52am

[...] indlæg på en af de blogs, som jeg følger tæt - Web Worker Daily. Her beskriver Ryan Healy, hvilke forventninger Generation Y - dem der er vokset op med nettet - har til deres fremtidige arbej…. Det er ikke småting, der forlanges, og det kommer til at kræve nogle deciderede opgør med [...]

valentin10 says: July 17th, 2007 4:21am

Very good blog, very rich and nice pictures and articles, congratulations !!!

CLINKS says: July 17th, 2007 7:15am

So, let me get this straight. You want a posistion where you don’t have to show up for work, doesn’t have any set title, and pays you while you save your best stuff for your start up company.

That’s called free lancing. And you know what, you are more then welcome to do it. Just don’t expect a steady check, insurance, or benefits and you’ll get along just great.

David Good says: July 17th, 2007 8:22am

Excellent post, but why do you limit yourself to the Millenial generation. The fact is that some of us out here in Gen X, graying though we may be, are also ready to see the work world change. The fact is, that when I talk to my peers in the office, most, if not all, are reasonably dissatisfied with their job, and are anxiously counting years, months,weeks, days, and hours to retirement. Assuming that such a thing will actually exist, and we don’t find ourselves working until we drop.

People are feeling trapped by the system. They are caught because they need the benefits, and are only motivated to avoid getting fired. Is it no wonder then, why our nation is self medicating with food, drugs and over priced latte’s. Intrapreneurism, and so called “getting a piece of the action” is what is needed. I believe that it is only when people feel that they have an ownership stake in what they do, that organizations can really come together for success.

As for titles, offices and such…meh. I don’t need a pat on the back and a shiny to make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I need the crispy cabbage. Pay me what I’m worth, and give me a piece of the action. As long as I get the job done right, on time and within budget, what do you care where, or when. Just so that it is done; results speak for themselves. I can do better shopping for my own insurance in the free market, than the organization will do; If I feel trapped in a job, because of benefits, than I am just that, trapped - and my motivation will only last as long as I am afraid.

As far as working on the side, as long as you don’t go after the same clients as your day job, go for it. If you make a little from this, and a little from that, soon you will have enough. You may not conquer the universe, but you might have enough to live the comfortably, which is really the goal after all.

Michael Neel says: July 17th, 2007 10:36am

Ah, the voice of ignorant youth - I was there once. In fact, we all were - there is nothing special about Gen Y that wasn’t there for X or your hippies grand parents. Companies are after Gen Y because you are far cheaper than someone with 10 years experience - all it takes is a free lunch room or an XBox 360. I on the other hand look at salary, how much healthcare is paid for, 401K, vacation time, employee stock plans - i.e. things that cost much more than a free lunch.

College is… college. It is not something that prepares you for work, it gives you an education. Depending on your field, that education may or may not be helpful in your job. BTW, GPA has never come up in any interview or job =)

Only one thing will define you, and that’s your track record. Have a successful track record at X and you’ll have options with X. Bomb at X and you’ll find yourself looking for a job in Y. That has little to do with working from home or in a cube - in fact all things being equal, an under preforming cube worker is more likely to “get a second chance” than an under preforming home worker. Food for thought.

Josh Holden says: July 17th, 2007 10:44am

Great post.

I recently left a job for the exact reason, while it was great on paper, I wasn’t given “the opportunity to come up with an idea and have free rein over development, implementation and follow through” to do my job to the best of my ability.

Thank you for articulating it in a way I couldn’t.

DRONE says: July 17th, 2007 11:05am

Hey Clinks! Hey Clinks! Please direct me to a cubicle where there is a steady check, insurance and benefits?!

What’s that? Ain’t none no more? Gee, that’s a shame.

Dad doesn’t smoke a pipe and drive a Chrysler no more Clinks. World’s a different place. Ain’t no nine to five that pays the mortgage. All jobs are chronically underpaid because people don’t BUILD ANYTHING ANY MORE.

Face it.

DRONE says: July 17th, 2007 11:11am

Memorandum to the guy up there who is trivializing college educations:

Earning a degree IS A TRACK RECORD. That’s why 85% of the people ’round here AIN’T GOT ONE.

Back when we used to value education, we designed aircraft, built bridges and dams, invented things and increased the standard of living for the WHOLE middle class.

Now, we don’t value education, which is why nobody builds anything any more.

We. don’t. know. how.

It’s all about the big cash grab now. Keep laughing it up in line at Home Depot fellas.

Barbara Saunders says: July 17th, 2007 11:13am

Interesting post and comments. I’d like to remark on three statements: “If you plan on a career, don’t plan on a job,” “free rein over development, implementation and follow through,” and my fellow, graying Gen-Xer’s bit about a track record. Whether we relish the changes or dread them, the old-fashioned white-collar career path is dead for most people.

Many of the jobs I’ve held have been with companies that no longer exist or have experienced downturns. One entire career and several of my employed roles did not exist at the time I graduated college. So, even if one’s desire is for a conventional “follow the commands of a boss” work life, one must be prepared for something other than a job or neat series of jobs.

In my opionion, Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers part perspectives in two key places: Gen-Xers want security in the form of the benefits we need but don’t care so much about the recognition from authority implied in a job where one gets free rein. Ironically while Gen-Yers seem more accepting in authority, they have better skills for entreprenering from the get-go; somehow they do without the track record while many Gen-Xers struggle with that.

Kari says: July 17th, 2007 11:41am

This is fascinating. I’m a Gen X and I left a corporate job this spring to work from home for Cool Works. It’s been one of the best moves of my life. To give credit where credit is due, my experience (”track record”) in the corporate world made it possible for this switch. Without those jobs, I wouldn’t have met my new boss or my co-workers at Cool Works.

Working from home has given me the power to not only do my job for Cool Works, but also get to do other things I love when the time is right (i.e. no traffic). For example, I get to go to the gym, pursue my photography habit and spend time with my friends and family. I am no longer judged simply for being “present,” but rather on what I achieve.

If only all employers could be so flexible…

Jon says: July 17th, 2007 12:35pm

Very thoughtful and so very, very true. This really does resonate with me at the moment as just in the process of leaving a big corporate ….. new adventures await!

psipsina says: July 17th, 2007 12:38pm

A response from a Generation X’er:

Cubicle farms are underrated. I used to hate them, too, then I went to a company where half of the people I deal with daily to get stuff done are literally in other states, some even in other countries, and the other half work from their homes at least one day a week. It’s gotten so bad that the guy in the next cube pings me on IRC instead of getting up and knocking on my door. He doesn’t want to “interrupt” me. I’m not sure why coming by in person is “interruption,” but an IRC ping is not …

Aside from the loss of personal connections formed at the water cooler, this is actually not conducive to success in the knowledge industry. Developing ideas requires communication, and not just the kind of planned communication that occurs in web conferences and VOIP calls. The seeds of serious creative work happen in those informal chats that begin when you run into your coworkers on your way to get coffee. The less time we spend in our cubicle farms, the less opportunity we have for this informal bouncing of ideas. And to bounce ideas, you need a critical mass of people.

So, fine, go work in Starbucks or at home in your pajamas. Just don’t be surprised if your fountain of ideas dries up. I’m already seeing it here.

Generation Y « Damien G Walter says: July 17th, 2007 1:49pm

[...] is the clearest statement of Generation Y philiosophy I’ve found so far. I’m not sure whether its pitifully weak or wonderfully subtle. The [...]

Ryan Healy says: July 17th, 2007 1:54pm

Thanks for all of the comments. I apologize for not replying earlier, I have been away on business with no connection.

Re Gen X: I have been writing at Employee Evolution and The Brazen Careerist for months now, and I notice that Y and X share very similar thoughts about the corporate world. I only concentrate on Gen-Y because I am a member and believe that we not only have the desire, but we have the motivation and sheer numbers that it takes to change something this large.

Re Freelancing: You hit the nail on the head with this one. Why shouldnt employees all be treated like freelancers are now? Soon enough everyone will be some form of freelancer; with health insurance and benefits if we’re lucky.

Re College: Yes, it is much different than the real world, but if you think about it there is much more freedom. If you can survive with no one forcing you to do anything in college, then you will be a much better worker or entrepreneur. The corporate world is a lot more like high school. Your employer is comparable to your parents; they support you financially and track your every move. Any robot can do what they are told!

Again, thanks for all the comments,

-Ryan

Read this about the impact of Gen Y employees to your business if you dare « Web 2.0 in business says: July 17th, 2007 2:27pm

[...] What Gen Y Wants from Work by Ryan Healy [...]

GigaOM What’s on GigaNet « says: July 17th, 2007 3:00pm

[...] What Gen Y Wants from Work: As Generation Y or the Millennials leave their dorms behind and enter the real world, we are encountering a corporate world that is, for the most part, still stuck in its outdated ways. What does Gen Y want from work? Continue Reading. [...]

MC says: July 17th, 2007 6:56pm

Very good and very funny post. I’m a GenX 40 yr old manager that hires 3-4 people a year. Enginnering backround is preferred but experience plays a big part in me even calling you for an interview.

And GenY guy? I’ve taken a class on you (really). I know what motivates you, what drives you, and how to reward you. It’s a science. This post is a 100% stereotype of the prototypical GenY from this class. Congratulations. You are common.

You want to know how to suceed? Show up. Work hard. Exceed expectations (which are actually quite low to start). And guess what happens. You suceed.

As a hiring manager I’m giving you an opportunity. It’s up to you to capitalize on it.

You want freedom? Make your own hours? Show up whenever? Start your own company.

MC says: July 17th, 2007 7:03pm

Always proofread before you hit ’submit’. Damn that’s a lot of typos.

MC

ArchEnemy says: July 18th, 2007 12:52am

These are the kind of articles and comments I suscribed to WWD for. Keep them going.

Gee says: July 18th, 2007 5:50am

It’s nice when you’re young and idealistic. As GenXers like me are finding out now, and as GenYers will in 5-10 years, your goals and priorities change as you start to grow your family.

You can act all cynical about working in the grey cube farms being paid minimum wage with no benes to pump out 10000 lines of C code a day, but life is not like that. Granted we’re not going to have the same job for 40 years either, but you need to take a realistic approach. Of course, if I were in your shoes I wouldn’t have the right background to say or understand such measured things.

Anyway, the important thing is to enjoy your professional life, and hopefully most people can find a way to do this. But I think that no matter what, we’ll always be outnumbered by the people who don’t care what it takes to bring home a pay check. That’s right - the majority of workers accept that work is miserable, and it’s fine to spend 40-50 hours a week doing sh-t they don’t like for their paycheck.

What Gen Y Wants from Work : [chrisbrogan.com] says: July 18th, 2007 6:56am

[...] a HUGE fan of GigaOM’s Web Worker Daily, and this guest article by Ryan Healy illustrates part of what excites me about their content: clipped from webworkerdaily.com What [...]

Ryan Healy says: July 18th, 2007 7:36am

MC,

Im really glad to hear that I am a typical “common” Gen-Y. If I was completely out of touch with what others in my generation want then we, as a whole, would have no chance of changing anything. However, if we all feel the same way, as we apparently do, then we can all jump on board and fight for workers rights and flexible work places. Or we can all start our own businesses together….

-Ryan

Rich says: July 18th, 2007 8:19am

great, great post - i could’ve written it myself. i was reading about my own experience; my current situation was mirrored back to me. thanks for letting me know that i’m not crazy!

DRONE says: July 18th, 2007 8:45am

40-50 hours a week doing something you don’t like so you can eat.

Sounds like a recipe for a wonderful world. Yep. Sounds like a winner!

DRONE says: July 18th, 2007 8:48am

Oh, and about the “show up, work hard” scam? Yeah, you misspelled “layoff”

Home Depot’s got a sale on paint.

Jenna Marks says: July 18th, 2007 8:55am

Hey Ryan… Please be sure to save this article and read it 10 years from now. Oh to be in my 20’s again….. lol

Robert says: July 18th, 2007 8:58am

Impatience is a virtue? I’m a Gen Xer who manages folks from Gen Y. Your post is interesting and confirms for me the vitality and, unfortunately, self-seeking tendencies of some, not all, Gen Y workers I’ve worked with. I have the luxury of working from home and I agree with your assessment of the freedom it brings and the responsibility it requires. One main concern is that your article sounds like any utopian vision: dogmatic and nieve. So-called “cubicle farms” need to be flexible to meet changing needs: agreed. But your vision might benefit from keeping in mind that your ideals might only suit your needs, not everyone else’s, certainly not folks who literally are bound to brick and mortar locations because their work is dependent on those locations. And your vision might not suit the end goals of many successful companies. Also, I think it’s important to keep in mind that impatience with the speed at which organizations change is not helpful and can be quite annoying. It typically only causes your “opponent” to dig in her/his heels. Change is slow and that honestly is a good thing. Rapid change brings rapid results, some of which are unexpected and sometimes hurtful. Folks like myself, and you, are leading the charge to new and hopefully better situations for many people. With that, I can agree. But patience is far more helpful than impatience. I suggest you learn a thing or two from those who currently hold the reins as it might come in handy someday when you’re dealing with a talented upstart such as yourself!

alex says: July 18th, 2007 9:30am

I think this sort of mentality will only continue as genY becomes more and more immersed in the workforce. Then in 3-5 years when they realize that they’re in the same jobs as they were upon entry because they didn’t put in the time to actually hone basic skills that are useful for implementation and instead chased after empty pipe dreams from one “great business idea” to another, the verbage may change. I wouldn’t necessarily chalk it up to hubris that they are more effective and hence work anywhere, but mainly just youthful exuberance. Just try working those strange hours at your investment bank and see how long that lasts.

I encourage the excitement and energy these GenY’s have in entering the workforce, and likewise cherish the idea of working away from a desk on a beach somewhere. But something tells me that the efficiency levels are not going to be the same. And there’s no way to maintain 12-14 hour start up days in such an environment. If that model was so superior to the working world, the beaches would be full with free wifi and power jacks for every laptop, universities would close their libraries and put a “Go to the Beach!” sign on the doors.

Sara says: July 18th, 2007 9:55am

I’m 27, so I’m either an older Y or a younger X depending on who you talk to. Unfortunately, the fairytale world where you want to live just doesn’t exist. You have to prove yourself before you can expect an employer to go out of their way to accommodate you- and I’m not talking about with a good GPA. I’m amazed at the sense of entitlement exhibited here.

links for 2007-07-18 — EXCELER8ion | People ARE The Social Media says: July 18th, 2007 10:20am

[...] What Gen Y Wants from Work « Web Worker Daily » By the time my generation is given the reins, work will barely resemble today’s office environment. It’s not because we are special or better than any other generation. It’s because we are entering the work force at the time that the web is revoluti (tags: genY career generation-y gen-y work) [...]

Erik Ronneberg says: July 18th, 2007 10:37am

Trust must be earned. If you get the work done on time, and get results, you will be given more freedom. You will choose to come to work to work with everyone else in the office, who are older than you, have more wisdom, vision, and patience. You won’t want to be at the beach or at home. Getting the job done requires help from older people. Try college with no professors- it won’t work very well. True freedom is inside, not a matter of the location of your computer or office.

Judi Sohn says: July 18th, 2007 10:37am

Sara, I couldn’t agree with you more. To get the kind of accommodations these folks want right out of college you have to prove that you’re either twice as smart or will work twice as hard as anyone else. Or both. Not just say it, not just believe it, but you have to PROVE it in your actions. Just good enough, or average performance won’t cut it.

The digital age changes the environment and the pace, but not the rules. You still have to earn what you get, and learn from your mistakes as much as you do from your successes.

X-Man says: July 18th, 2007 10:59am

Today companies need innovation & diligence. If a job can be replicated, it’ll be documented and sent overseas. However, innovation and creativity can’t be send overseas.

There’s little surprise that people are more entrepreneural now. It’s very easy to research & setup a company today compared to the past. However, until you’ve gone out and had to pay monthly expenses, it’s easy to dream about starting your own thing. Running a business is an all-consuming, potentially bankrupting experience where you can’t blame a boss or company as all responsibilites rests on your shoulders from accountants who charge by the hour to clients who demand you kiss their… feet. I can’t even remember what a 9 to 5 job is…?

future4now says: July 18th, 2007 11:09am

Great Post.

One of the funnier things that I have seen is the “recruiting scam” of companies. They come to schools across the nation and they tell the students about the positions available. The “Sales Associate”, the “Web Developer”, the “Advertising Agent”. Its really funny because these titles are so promising, until you start an internship, and instead of selling anything, developing anything, or working on an advertising plan, you are getting coffee, and making useless phone calls that in most cases have the lowest chance for a sales lead. It really makes me want to work in a cubicle, and I can only imagine how much I can grow in my entry level job… I don’t think so

Great first impression Corporate America!!

Terence says: July 18th, 2007 11:19am

I suppose most of Ryan’s jobs have been fairly lonely affairs, where he doesn’t need to collaborate with anyone else on a team.

My situation is different — I work at an creative marketing agency, and have found over and over again that face to face meetings are the best way to present and discuss a project or a given piece of work. Solitary toil just doesn’t cut it.

Given the importance that Gen-Y attaches to ‘creativity,’ I’m surprised this notion of working away from the rest of the team — translated as ‘you have to trust me — is so important.

Unless what it really means is: “I’m to special to wake up early and commute with the rest of you.”

Terence says: July 18th, 2007 11:25am

Ryan wrote:

“I now tell people I am a consultant, writer and aspiring entrepreneur. I consider myself all of these things. If I am comfortable enough to tell people this, then it must be true. Right?”

No, Ryan, that is not correct. Its only true if you are actually consulting, writing and being an entrepreneur — ie starting a business.

Otherwise — your comfort level is irrelevant — its just bullshit.

future4now says: July 18th, 2007 11:32am

Terence

I am pretty sure that Ryan WROTE this blog, and in doing so he was giving advice, or CONSULTING to his audience. Also the word aspiring does not mean that he has already done something (started a business). If you look it up it actually means “to long, aim, or seek ambitiously”. I would say that his comfort level is quite acceptable.

Terence says: July 18th, 2007 12:59pm

If writing a blog makes you a “consultant”, then you must believe writing music reviews makes you Pavarotti.

Ryan Healy says: July 18th, 2007 1:02pm

I am a consultant because I actually work for a consulting firm.

Terence says: July 18th, 2007 1:22pm

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for replying.

I absolutely agree with you that you are consultant if you work for a consulting firm.

What I was reacting to was the implication that someone can be a consultant, writer or entrepreneur just by saying so.

Your job doesn’t have to define you (I don’t think it has in quite a while) but I don’t think that your hobbies do, either. My stamp collection doesn’t make me the Postmaster General.

PS. I don’t really have a stamp collection.

mean boss says: July 18th, 2007 3:34pm

Free rein over your own projects? So, you want the safety and security of a corporate umbrella - a paycheck, benefits, access to their capital and resources and credit for the upside. But, if your project tanks, who feels the pain.

I am all about being able to use creativity and innovation on the job. That’s why I started my OWN COMPANY.

And, if you venture out to do the same, I HIGHLY doubt that you will give FREE REIN to your employees. You will want them to think, contribute and help improve your product, services (whatever your offering), or provide input on how to make operations more efficient, but you will not want them running free range in their own little kingdoms.

I can see where you’re coming from on some of these points, but it’s not quite right. I agree with an earlier contributor - read this again in 20 years. You will have a chuckle.

DRONE says: July 18th, 2007 3:58pm

We can’t have them running free range in their own little kingdoms because then there will be too many kings! Whatever shall we do! BEW HEW HEW!

No, they must be locked down into rigid schedules planned to the minute! You will arrive at 8 sharp and leave at five and if you take ONE EXTRA MINUTE AT LUNCH we will spend $500 in management salary time so they can wheeze policies at you for 45 minutes and tell you you’re a SLACKER! A SLACKER I SAY!

Now, see if you can guess why nothing ever gets invented in a cubicle? ’nuff said.

Jacqueline Zenn says: July 18th, 2007 4:34pm

I’m late to the party but I agree with the other commentators who said to freelance or start your own company if you want complete creative and physical freedom - I’m a Gen-Yer who has actually never had a “typical” job mostly because I valued my freedom, creative and otherwise, above the relative stability of a paycheck and benefits (hey, I’m 23 with no dependents - I can do that*). I wrote a longer response to the whole thing on my blog, if anyone cares (too many paragraphs to post here).

*and yes, I manage to support myself without the aid of the “Bank of Mom and Dad”.

DRONE says: July 18th, 2007 5:26pm

Hey, know why there is such a thing as a “Bank of Mom and Dad?” Well, see that’s ’cause Dad had a CAREER where he got paid every two weeks for like, oh, 35 years with no breaks. His medical, dental, vision, insurance, and pretty much everything else was paid for too. He didn’t get fired every ten months and he didn’t get laid off every time the company didn’t put up record profits. He even got a raise once in a while.

Oh, and he wasn’t dragging around two mortgages and five credit cards either. Housing was reasonable. He wasn’t forking $6 for a box of Corn Flakes and he wasn’t borrowing $60,000 at 24% interest for the privilege of watching his plastic car get towed away. Why, he even got weekends off! Mom got pretty much the same deal.

Ain’t gonna be no bank of Mom and Dad this generation, now is there?

DRONE says: July 18th, 2007 5:30pm

“So, you want the safety and security of a corporate umbrella - a paycheck, benefits, access to their capital and resources and credit for the upside.”

Yep, that’s pretty much what built the country from the 1820s to the Internet.

Maybe that’s why we don’t build much no more, huh? Whaddya think?

Christina Tierney says: July 18th, 2007 6:30pm

I didn’t realize I had already been practicing revolutionary work habits for over 15 years. I am encouraged that Gen Y (I’m a Gen Xr) will carry on this torch for change.

I want to express how much I see this demand for change cutting across all generational lines. These behaviors are already strongly implanted in many places across the globe.

In fact - last evening while waiting for my flight home from a client meeting, I met a Baby Boomer. This Baby Boomer has also been leveraging technology, working “his” way passionately for over 20 years.

I would say that our biggest challenge for completely revolutionizing the way we work, will be converting the Major Corporations. They still have this belief that unless you are chained to a cubicle or desk from 9 to 5 you wont be productive. I say, yeah right!

I am so excited to see where this will take all of us. What a phenomenal journey this will be! :)

Dale says: July 18th, 2007 8:14pm

Hey, I’ve done both the cube farm and the home office and I much preferred the cube farm, professionally. No matter how plugged in to the main office I was via AIM, email, and phone, I was simply Not There when Things Happened or when Somebody Casually Mentioned Something that could affect My Work. That put me at a Big Disadvantage over time.

If I had my druthers I’d do a 4 and 1: 4 days in the office and one day at home/beach/flop house/bus kiosk/GothFest or whatever.

-dale

WildBlueSkies » What Gen Y Wants from Work says: July 18th, 2007 9:49pm

[...] Web Worker Daily: What does Gen Y want from work? The same things many web workers look for: the ability to work wherever they like, an identity that isn’t defined by a particular profession, and flexible ways of experimenting with entrepreneurship even while benefiting from traditional employment. [...]

workplace culture change | notbadbutgood says: July 18th, 2007 10:23pm

[...] read this article today while perusing my veritable treasure trove of feeds from various blogs that I love. It talks [...]

yenyen says: July 18th, 2007 11:38pm

its very interesting to note your arguments for the GenY to have “access” to the resources of companies versus the hard cold facts that the real world has to live by some rules, unpleasant or not as commented by DRONE here….

but see…. I’d like to ask all of you guys to at least give me something that might possibly be of use to some, and definitely of use to me…..

that is….what kind of alibi do you give your bosses when you are starting your own “company’ while at the same time using their resources…..paycheck to support you as you plod along your big goal to leave them when your business takes off……
the kind of alibi that doesn’t get you fired…anyone???

see…I’m a GENY and I’ve managed to put up my own wholesale fish delivery service…..and was able to leave the corporate world for a few years now….
about three years already…….

but lately since I have so much free time afforded by my business….
I was thinking of going back to the manufacturing world…..I’m a chemist originally…
so that i can have the paycheck thus maximizing my time…..
even if I hate the job….
another way of using those who use us….right????

talk about loyalty issues here…..huh…..

so any one got a great alibi…sure could be helpful to all of us already having a biz or planning to start one…………..

whitney says: July 19th, 2007 2:45am

I was very interested in your article, since I am very much a new media person, yet my husband is an OB GYN. How do you think the Gen Y attitude about work and play affects more traditional, and less flexible career paths like those of medicine and the law? While I get that lawyers can write briefs from their laptops anywhere, you can’t treat a broken arm or deliver a baby over the internet. But the ennui with authority and rules remain- so how can youreconstruct traditional professions to meet the new demands of both the new student doctors and the patients they need to see and treat? People don’t get sick on a schedule that suits your lifestyle.

Ryan Healy says: July 19th, 2007 7:07am

Whitney,

Obviously there are professions where many of these ideas cannot be implemented. Med students know exactly what they are getting into before they enter the work world. However, I’m sure there is a way to attract more people to the medical profession, so these new doctors don’t need to work 36 hour shifts. Since delivering a baby from home is not an option, young doctors will probably start to demand the traditional work/life balance while the professionals in flexible professions will ask for a different kind of work/life balance. I envision it as more of a “blend.”

Regardless, medical professionals should know they are devoting a huge majority of their life to the practice before entering it. Somebody needs to keep us healthy!

yenyen says: July 19th, 2007 7:35am

its a great point ryan …..

which brings me to mind….

obviously there are profession that has an advantage of creating a more
flexible lifestyle….

come to think of it…shouldn’t we all try to at least have some part of this…
new trend????

onlineconomy.wordpress.com

anonymous says: July 19th, 2007 6:11pm

This is great - I’m 25, show up to work whenever I want, take days off whenever I want, get paid well, have awesome bennies - then again, I’m a genius, and the company depends upon my services. ymmv

Josh Holden ∆ business geekery » What Gen Y wants from work says: July 20th, 2007 12:46pm

[...] What Gen Y wants from work [...]

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More On Gen Y, the Workforce, and Freelancing « Chasing the Southern Cross says: July 22nd, 2007 10:13pm

[...] 23rd, 2007 Last week, I wrote a post referencing this essay on Web Worker Daily by Ryan Healy of Employee Evolution, and in the past few days, there’s [...]

David Mullings says: July 23rd, 2007 3:58pm

I think that the “cube farm” work environment is in fact dead as well. As a 26 year-old who did his best to avoid them but has worked in them, I am not saying that a ‘home office’ and ‘flex time’ is the solution - there are more important factors.

- the nature of my work (does it excite and challenge me? does it reward me?)
- the work environment and attitude of senior management
- the restrictions

Staying in a job for benefits is way too old school, that’s not the only way to get benefits. Fear keeps most people in their jobs, not love.

I am quite sure I would enjoy working at some companies though: Companies like Apple, Google, Patagonia, Burton (snowboards, etc), Nintendo and so many more companies that seem to focus so much more on the work environment and keeping employees happy.

People should be paid for PRODUCTIVITY, not their TIME. I personally think that most people simply want better control of their time but companies treat them like indentured servants or slaves rather than partners.

Before we had large corporations, everybody was basically a freelancer or worked for themselves and I see us going back to that because of technology. I want an office for my team, but I refuse to play by the same rules as big business, I will take some and modify others. People have other things to do besides make a few people lots of money through their hard work. If the spoils were shared better, maybe people wouldn’t be so quick to leave.

Femi og Michael » Next generation of employees says: July 24th, 2007 4:12am

[...] I first came across the term Generation Y (people born between 1980 and 1990) the other day and it’s been lingering for a couple of days. “As Generation Y or the Millennials leave their dorms behind and enter the real world, we are encountering a corporate world that is, for the most part, still stuck in its outdated ways.” -Guest Post: What Gen Y Wants from Work [...]

Marianne says: July 26th, 2007 12:33pm

PLEASE do not refer to our generation as “Generation Y”. I find it boring and horribly nondescript and would appreciate it if the term wasn’t propogated so freely in articles like yours.
“Millenials” is a first–I’ll have to start using that one. :)

Digital Dashes » Blog Archive » More beachside offices please says: July 26th, 2007 8:19pm

[...] Ryan Healy has a good conversation-starter in Web Worker Daily — “What Gen Y Wants From Work” [...]

Robert HP says: August 1st, 2007 8:01am

>>>>Anyone can be whatever they want thanks to the power of the web. Creating a business, website or blog is so simple that we can all play multiple roles.<<<<<

“Play” being the operative word. Save for a very small minority, blogging and IMming and selling funny T-shirts on a website and downloading music or posting on YouTube is not work, it’s entertaining, a hobby.
True entrepreneurs realize they need to understand the process before they can break the rules. Rupert Murdoch and Richard Branson and Mike Bloomberg set out on their own very early, but they also know how the game is played, and I guarantee you as flexible as Microsoft and Nintendo are as work environments, you *still* start out pouring coffee and working your ass off before you get to “control” “launch” or “develop” your own projects.
It used to be the only fresh-out-of-college types who could claim they were “aspiring” whatevers who wanted to work on their own schedule were actors and painters. Now it appears that the average workaday advertising grad or magazine assistant editor thinks they can call themselves a “consultant” because they blog.
Definitely follow your dreams, definitely break the molds, but don’t expect the world to fall at your feet because you’re so wired and special.
As an aside: to all those who pine for the “pre-corporate” days, the independent start-ups, the work-from-homes or their own businesses, remember: you put in a *whole* lot more time working in these situations (even if it’s from your BlackBerry on the beach) than you do in a typical “corporate” 9 to 5, usually with far fewer benefits (albeit more pay and your own schedule).
The cobbler who owned his own company in the 19th century, the Dot Commer launching (a successful) big business site, or the writer/consultant pounding away at Starbucks (then on her BlackBerry, then at night at home) all work significant hours to make their business a success, often employing family members at below-poverty wages (if any).
Then if you are eventually lucky enough to hire employees, there is no way you’re gonna want them to behave the way you prescribe, spending your company’s time and resources for their lackadaiscal schedules and seeking a way to make your innovations theirs for their own start-up. Good luck with that attitude in life — only a very small percentage of any people, in any age get to live the way you think everyone should, and most of those will have married rich or been born into wealth.

Achieve Market Leadership » Read this about the impact of Gen Y employees to your business if you dare says: August 9th, 2007 12:53am

[...] What Gen Y Wants from Work by Ryan Healy [...]

culturegeist says: August 16th, 2007 7:25am

I think Ryan is more in synch with a post-college, idealistic concept of the corporate environment than the actual reality of today’s workplace. Props for going after what he wants but the tone of his piece makes him come off as a little naive and slightly intoxicated with his own sense of self importance and entitlement. If he started a business do you think he’d hire himself?

eric the fruitbat » Figures and Formulas says: August 23rd, 2007 9:18pm

[...] Also of interest is a post on what Gen Y wants from work. [...]

Productivity Zen - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Productivity - Powered by SocialRank says: October 1st, 2007 7:31pm

[...] Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Guest Post: What Gen Y Wants from Work « [...]

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Gen Y, What Are They Thinking? | My Other Beans says: April 14th, 2008 2:45pm

[...] most recent generation of workers is always perceived as the “slacker” generation. In this post, Ryan Healy tells us what he thinks his generation is looking for in a working [...]

WinExtra » Don’t count us out because we’re old says: June 3rd, 2008 1:46am

[...] doesn’t matter where you turn whether it be in old media print or new media blogs and other social media but all you seem to be hearing about is this new and [...]