Who’s the boss? Or rather, who wants to be the boss?
Posted On March 13, 2014
That’s the question the Pew Research Center asked recently. And the answer is, the kids. Millennials want to be the boss, Gen Xers are split, and Boomers say, no thanks. More scientifically, 32% of Boomer, 58% of Gen Xers and 70% of Millennials males (and 21%, 41% and 61%, respectively for females) want to be the boss. That may or may not come as a surprise to you. Often those with the least power are most hungry for it, and those in power better understand the burden. So, from a generational and age perspective it makes sense that the youngest… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Blog, Workplace
Millennial (not just Boomer) demands are creating new business opportunities
Posted On March 9, 2014
Aging Baby Boomers who don’t want to take on the typical retirement stereotypes have created demand for new businesses aimed at helping them address their AARP years in a whole new way. On the flip side of business, some Millennials are recognizing that their unique way of navigating the workforce demands some new ways of looking at business. Dan Friedman, the millennial founder of one such business, Thinkful, recently shared his perspective in Business Insider. In an nutshell, Friedman proposes that the loss of expectations for meaningful employee-employer loyalty has created a professional learning gap for today’s young workers. More… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Blog, Entrepreneurship
Learning the Ropes: Human Resource Management Basics for Beginners
Posted On February 12, 2014
You answer the phones, handle employee complaints, and do the payroll now, so why do you need an HR person? Aren’t they a major drag on the company? They only collect a paycheck but they never actually contribute anything measurable to the company, right? Not so fast. Human resources jobs are a lot harder than they sound. HR personnel aren’t necessarily a drain on the company. They do plenty to earn their keep. For starters, they handle the bulk of your company’s paperwork. Even if you have a mostly paperless company, they fill in with computer work that you either… Read More
Categories: Training Industry, WorkCareer Guidance in Schools Under Fire
Posted On February 12, 2014
As we continue to redevelop our website we’re not focusing too much on the blogs. We hope the new website will be operational early in the new year. In the interim we’re accepting guest blogs. Enjoy this, the first guest blog from over seas: Too many young people are leaving school without a clear idea of what careers are available to them and how to gain the relevant qualifications. A series of damning reports has highlighted failings in the National Careers Services. Critics include education watchdog Ofsted, the director general of the CBI and the president of the Association of… Read More
Categories: Blog, Generation X, Generation Y / MillennialsBelieve it or not, your employees want to be engaged in their work
Posted On October 24, 2013
As much as it is maligned, the whole concept of “go out and find a job that makes you happy” may not be such a bad thing after all. Yes, it is possible that seeking happiness may make a person perpetually dissatisfied, as if there is always likely to be something better around the next bend. However, there are layers of happiness that can come with simple things, such as career accomplishments. And it seems this is where some companies are missing the boat. In a recent Workplace Insights study by Accounting Principals, hiring managers shared that while they know… Read More
Categories: Generations, WorkplaceGen X & Y – not your father’s millionaires.
Posted On October 24, 2013
Every year, Fidelity Investments publishes its Millionaire Outlook survey, which analyzes the investing attitudes and behaviors of millionaires. And while the Millennials (or Gen Y as the survey refers to them) are not having the easiest time right out of the college gates, they do have some showing among the young millionaire ranks. Interestingly enough, the study groups Gen X and Gen Y collectively as “young millionaires” with investment traits significantly different than the Boomer+ millionaires. It is sometimes thought that class, or privilege, trumps the generational norms. That is, individuals at the far ends of the socioeconomic spectrum are… Read More
Categories: Charity, Financial Services, Menu 1The plight of the Millennial
Posted On October 22, 2013
The delay of adulthood, or extended adolescence, is a well-documented reality and in most discussions a great deal of blame is placed at the feet of parents hover and enable, creating an almost co-dependency. And while there is certainly some truth to that, good old fashioned economics are also to blame—at least for the Millennials. Throughout history, college graduates had a reasonably expectation of solid professional employment upon graduating with a four-year degree. College debt was significantly less than it is today. And while the cultural belief that college is a prerequisite for just about any career path is still… Read More
Categories: WorkplaceGeneration X: Time to shine?
Posted On October 17, 2013
Once maligned as slackers and cynics, Gen Xers are coming into their own in the business world. A recent EY study, reported in Business Week, shows that not only do Xers think they are in position to be the best business leaders right now—their Millennial and Boomer counterparts agree. In fact, Xers were specifically applauded for being the generation least likely to be cynical and condescending. As the article points out however, there is still a grey cloud to go with the silver lining. Generation X may be the best fit for the leadership role for the moment, but this… Read More
Categories: WorkplaceWill Millennials be intolerant employees? Could that be a good thing?
Posted On October 10, 2013
Millennials bring to the workplace a certain amount of self-righteousness. They’ve had the participation trophies; they tend to be very philanthropic and altruistic; they are typically more socially open-minded. And they don’t have any delusions that the job they take fresh out of school is the one they will retire from 40 years later. Will that combination of traits make Millennial less tolerant of bad work environments? And if so, will that make companies have to deal with unsavory situations more than they’ve maybe done in the past? Will Dilbert need to find a new schtick? That is the argument… Read More
Categories: Workplace