Generations Blog

This past Sunday, The Denver Post published an editorial entitled Millennials: Large and In Charge. It was written by T.J. Wihera, a newly minted graduate of the University of Colorado. In the article, he takes Baby Boomers to task for coddling their kids and then complaining about the way they behave in the workplace. Along that line, he does have a point. The Boomers, as a generation, have always believed that they can have their cake and eat it too. He goes on to say that veteran workers should simply get over themselves because his emering generation is going to be in the workplace for the long term and employers should get out of the way and let them take over. He concludes by saying that Millennials will be paying the Social Security tab for their parents and he will never see a dime.  As we know, the issues are “a bit” more complex than he has concluded. Perhaps he will discover this as he matures in the workplace that he derides with such abandon.  I’d like to think that the classes that Mr. Wihera attended at the University of Colorado provided him with a little more understanding of context. Sadly, he does not display it in his writing.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Wihera chose such a polarizing approach with what he had to say. While he could have opened the door to collaboration,  his rant instead seemed to reinforce the self-serving nature perceived by many of the veteran managers and professionals with whom I and others work. I have to wonder why the Post would print such a one-sided piece that does little more that accentuate the differences we we see in the workplace already. I, and a number of others, spend our days trying to promote understanding between the age groups.  This kind of thing does not promote productive discussion. It instead promotes resentment.

It’s true that many Millennials’ parents have gone out of their ways to over-protect their kids. In turn, managers find themselves acting as surrogate parents when these young people fail to behave productively in the workplace. Perhaps Mr. Wihera will be able to land a job where the employer has the time and resources to coddle him and respond to his every emotional need. I wish him well on his journey.