Gen Y

1000 Australian workers were interviewed, by the Mercer What's Working Survey? Gen Y, it was found, were some of the least happy in the work force. They have suffered a bad reputation as being the 'Lazy Generation,' but this survey would indicate that they appreciate being challenged.

Fifty two percent of workers aged between 25 and 35 were seriously considering leaving their jobs because of a lack of job satisfaction. They tend to take a 'zigzag' approach to career advancement. Gen y, prefer to take a side ways step and learn new skills which would enable them to be promoted into new areas within a business. They like to be continually leaning new things and being stretched.
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Furthermore, Gen Y like to know why they are doing the work they do and at times ask the question “why do you want me to do this at all?”

To replace a worker is costly. So, in order for employees to keep their younger workers, they need to create strategies to keep them challenged and create opportunities for them to move into other areas within the same company.

Exercises

1)	a.	What reputation does Gen Y have?
	b.	Why do 52 percent of Australian workers between the ages of 25 and 35 consider leaving their jobs?
	c.	In your own words, what is a the 'zigzag' approach younger workers take to advance their careers?
2)	a.	What are some of the key words used in this article?
	b.	Write a summary of this article using these keys words.
3)	a.	Who are Gen Y?
	b.	In pairs, find out the names given to three other generational groups and what years they are linked to.
	c.	What chief characteristics can be identified in each of these groups?
4)	a.	In groups discuss what you understand career advancement to mean?
	b.	Continue the discussion by choosing a business or a profession with a top position. Discuss where the person heading for that top position could start out and what zigzag positions they could work in, in order to work their way to the top and learn how the entire enterprise functions.
	c.	On an A3 page make a flow chat depicting the career advancement including time frames you think are appropriate for each level. The positions don't have to exist in real life. Be as creative as you like.