For years I have heard this and thought it was crazy and I don't mean this to apply to "all of them" but we had someone start work where I was and I just thought he was CRAZY entitled.

- he came in with almost zero skills - no graduate degree, for an entry level position. And immediately asked for a 10K raise. And got it.
- he dressed sort of quazi down and certainly didn't try to dress up.
- he bad mouthed and gossiped from the first day. So much so it was almost shocking.
- he demanded a promotion.
- at a recent training he basically piped up that we were all racist.
- with drama and stupidity he quit claiming he got a better job. But he gave them no notice and cleaned out his office before giving his notice.

This follows yet another millennial that basically had a similar demeanor. She also quit with drama and unprofessionalism.

In the end I think both were fools. One has no job right now the other has a job that to me, is not at all an upgrade. I am starting to wonder.

[seesaw]

No, I don't think Millennials are entitled. I've seen the same behavior in Gen X, Baby Boomers, and the Matures. There may be some consistency in what you're seeing, but I'd have to know more about the demographic - what's the industry, were they male or female, how good looking were they, what race/ethnicity were they, what was their socioeconomic background? Frankly, all those things play into whether or not someone acts entitled, it's not just their generation.

The Millennials I see entering the workforce work their tails off, often overtime for no pay, to make a name for themselves and prove themselves, while their supervisor baby boomers have been sitting in the same job (acting more entitled in my opinion) expecting annual raises for doing the same job every year and barely growing profits, if they grow them at all.

Seesaw

I think those that come from families who are financially well off, regardless of their generation, that didn't actually work for their wealth, are entitled as well as pathetic.

Somebody who has had to go without necessities for any period of time and has had to scrape by on very little would learn not to take having a decent paying job for granted. Those that can actually get a decent job but take it for granted generally do so because they know that if they screw up and get fired that mommy and daddy will just bail them out of their screw ups.

With that being said, I think the millennial generation as a whole (excluding those from financially well off families) has had it harder than any other generation since the silent generation simply because we came of age during the second worst recession in the entire history of the US which makes a normal young person have a hard enough time as it is when they have no experience and jobs are limited let alone the type of hell us millennials with a MI have had to go through just to survive.

[GreenBlueRed]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

I think those that come from families who are financially well off, regardless of their generation, that didn't actually work for their wealth, are entitled as well as pathetic.

Somebody who has had to go without necessities for any period of time and has had to scrape by on very little would learn not to take having a decent paying job for granted. Those that can actually get a decent job but take it for granted generally do so because they know that if they screw up and get fired that mommy and daddy will just bail them out of their screw ups.

With that being said, I think the millennial generation as a whole (excluding those from financially well off families) has had it harder than any other generation since the silent generation simply because we came of age during the second worst recession in the entire history of the US which makes a normal young person have a hard enough time as it is when they have no experience and jobs are limited let alone the type of hell us millennials with a MI have had to go through just to survive.

I would say the recession is affecting people of all ages, not just young people.

I agree with you and seesaw, it isn't generational, it is often social class and many other factors that cause someone to show entitlement.

There is a coworker whom is 27 and lives with her family. They cook for her and provide most of her living expenses. She actually told me she refuses to do the dishes at home when asked because part of her job at work is cleaning, and she "has done enough of that for a day". She appears to be living pretty much like a suburban teenager. She turns her nose up at work she feels is beneath her, and spends a lot of time on her phone instead of working.

Yet another coworker, same age, works 10 hour days, takes evening classes for EMT training, does landscaping on the weekends, and rents a room above a garage. He is saving up money to start a business. His family is also of means, but he has never felt very supported emotionally. His parents moved out of the country almost immediately after he turned 18, and he seems to feel abandoned and misunderstood by them. He drives himself hard despite having panic disorder. He is proud not to be a burden on anyone, but is upset that he doesn't have the means to support a family.

I personally view the first coworker as acting entitled, but I know she struggles with insecurities that landed her in abusive relationships. She feels crushed by her overbearing mother. She loved her late grandfather dearly and took care of him until he passed away. She cannot look people in the eye without becoming uncomfortable and self conscious.

And I know the second coworker can act like he knows everything sometimes and be dismissive without much cause. He can be frustratingly stubborn about stupid things, and defiant for the sake of being contrary.

When you get into it, people not easy to categorize. OP can give a few bullet points about what someone has done to support a case that they seem entitled, but that cannot be the whole picture. How much does it really matter to look at people so one dimensionally?

[reb569]

I've worked with several millennial's over the last several years. Some as permanent employees, some as summer student employee's. For the most part I have found them to be smart, organized and hard working. I can think of one summer intern we had that was basically useless. She was asked to end her summer employment early. Another was a great worker and very professional. After her graduation the next year she applied to a job opening in my division and stated in her initial interview that her salary requirements were 10k over what the position was offering. She wasn't offered the job. Other than that my experiences with millennial's have been very positive.

I work with some millennial's now on a daily basis. No issues. I'm on the tail end of the baby boomers myself.

My only issue with millennial's is not with millennial's themselves, but with our Human Resources Division and how they are constantly trying to find ways to bring more millennial's into the company through some special programs. It does make sense, but at the same time, long term, proven, employees are being overlooked for these programs and sit in the same positions for years, while millennial's, after finishing the program, are put into positions higher than them and are promoted quicker. It's not their fault. There just is no upward mobility for certain groups of employees. And yes, unfortunately, I am in that group.

[GreenBlueRed]

Originally Posted by reb569

My only issue with millennial's is not with millennial's themselves, but with our Human Resources Division and how they are constantly trying to find ways to bring more millennial's into the company through some special programs. It does make sense, but at the same time, long term, proven, employees are being overlooked for these programs and sit in the same positions for years, while millennial's, after finishing the program, are put into positions higher than them and are promoted quicker. It's not their fault. There just is no upward mobility for certain groups of employees. And yes, unfortunately, I am in that group.

I bet they are being paid less overall, though.

In my experience, younger employees are being put in seemingly higher positions, but since they lack experience they are paid much less than an older, experienced employee would require (or are already paid).

One poor kid...he was straight out of college and being tasked way above his experience level. He didn't know what he was doing at all, but it was clear to me that the company did not want to hire someone that could do the job effectively because an applicant who knew better would also want decent pay for it.

I met a young woman who was the manager of an independent shoe store - working alone, doing everything to keep the store running - and she was being paid $13/hr, which is not much more than the local minimum wage where I live - rent for a one bedroom is generally over $1000/mo.

When I took my first job out of college, I was paid the same as a McDonald's worker. I hired an intern because there was too much work to do alone. I said, "I need help," they said: go find it. So I put out the posting, did the interviews, drafted the paperwork, everything. I mean, that sort of flexibility was amazing, but at the same time I was being paid less than before I went to college and making money for someone else's company with no support.

Yet I see plenty of older workers with half the responsibility making three times as much money. So, it varies.

Originally Posted by reb569

My only issue with millennial's is not with millennial's themselves, but with our Human Resources Division and how they are constantly trying to find ways to bring more millennial's into the company through some special programs. It does make sense, but at the same time, long term, proven, employees are being overlooked for these programs and sit in the same positions for years, while millennial's, after finishing the program, are put into positions higher than them and are promoted quicker. It's not their fault. There just is no upward mobility for certain groups of employees. And yes, unfortunately, I am in that group.

This is what happened here. My workplace for some reason has started obsessing over the idea of young (minority) people in all positions. And they have paid for it by hiring immature candidates.

I was mostly annoyed with a few common things I kept hearing out of them. First, that they weren't making enough money like it was something new. The thing is... when I stared a job in the 1990s I got paid 18K to start. I couldn't even afford to move out. I was put into a position ABOVE my boss because they realized I was capable and would get paid very little.

So it isn't like any of this is new. My college degree was largely useless even then..There was a recession in 1992 to 1996 or so... I don't think I got paid a decent wage until I was 30 and lived with my parents for most of my 20s. I had 70K of student loans and went to a state college to keep my debt down. I am not married and I would say honestly that probably is because of the situation... and other complicating factors.

And I agree that no one should have to start their life like that and that we need to start realizing that we need to take care of our younger generation but at the same time, I am getting tired of hearing it from some millennials. We all have it tough.

I will say I work with some great millenillials though. It is just that some are incredibly entitled.

[NikoleS]

This is going to be a dumb question I know it, but what is a millennial? People my age? 21?
I can't think right now. I need to eat.

[GreenBlueRed]

Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton

This is what happened here. My workplace for some reason has started obsessing over the idea of young (minority) people in all positions. And they have paid for it by hiring immature candidates.

I was mostly annoyed with a few common things I kept hearing out of them. First, that they weren't making enough money like it was something new. The thing is... when I stared a job in the 1990s I got paid 18K to start. I couldn't even afford to move out. I was put into a position ABOVE my boss because they realized I was capable and would get paid very little.

So it isn't like any of this is new. My college degree was largely useless even then..There was a recession in 1992 to 1996 or so... I don't think I got paid a decent wage until I was 30 and lived with my parents for most of my 20s. I had 70K of student loans and went to a state college to keep my debt down. I am not married and I would say honestly that probably is because of the situation... and other complicating factors.

And I agree that no one should have to start their life like that and that we need to start realizing that we need to take care of our younger generation but at the same time, I am getting tired of hearing it from some millennials. We all have it tough.

I will say I work with some great millenillials though. It is just that some are incredibly entitled.

Yeah, and folks were moaning about it, then, too So why are millenials suddenly the entitled ones?

I do find it interesting that those born post 1980 were still fed a lie about what sort of prosperity to expect, since the US has been in economic decline for a long time.

And just think a moment: you were paid 18k in the 1990s. 30 years later, with cost of living doubling or more, many people are still paid around 20k starting.

[Nammu]

I don't think it's a generation thing it's more an age thing. I know plenty of baby boomers who were very entitled when that age but got better with maturity. Some people regardless of age are more mature. I think there's the same percentage of entitlement in every generation and it's more of a how you're raised than anything else.

[Angel Pie]

Originally Posted by NikoleS

This is going to be a dumb question I know it, but what is a millennial? People my age? 21?
I can't think right now. I need to eat.

Those that were born after 1980. So yes that would be you also. There is no such thing as a dumb question, remember that.

[reb569]

Originally Posted by GreenBlueRed

I bet they are being paid less overall, though.

In my experience, younger employees are being put in seemingly higher positions, but since they lack experience they are paid much less than an older, experienced employee would require (or are already paid).

One poor kid...he was straight out of college and being tasked way above his experience level. He didn't know what he was doing at all, but it was clear to me that the company did not want to hire someone that could do the job effectively because an applicant who knew better would also want decent pay for it.

I met a young woman who was the manager of an independent shoe store - working alone, doing everything to keep the store running - and she was being paid $13/hr, which is not much more than the local minimum wage where I live - rent for a one bedroom is generally over $1000/mo.

When I took my first job out of college, I was paid the same as a McDonald's worker. I hired an intern because there was too much work to do alone. I said, "I need help," they said: go find it. So I put out the posting, did the interviews, drafted the paperwork, everything. I mean, that sort of flexibility was amazing, but at the same time I was being paid less than before I went to college and making money for someone else's company with no support.

Yet I see plenty of older workers with half the responsibility making three times as much money. So, it varies.

Actually, if they come to our company under the management development program they come in at a pretty high pay grade, then, once they finish the program and find a permanent position, their pay grade either stays the same, or they go up a pay grade. All our pay grades have a minimum salary. Most of them end up in project management positions, or managing a section within a division or an office location.

[eyesclosed]

I don't think you can give a label to a generation of people. Entitlement is a behavior learned at childhood. They did a study of children of parents who were on welfare and they were 2x more likely to be on welfare in adulthood.