Generation Y is Taking Over But Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry

As Generation Y edges into the workplace, older generations, such as Baby Boomers or Generation X, may be getting a little uneasy. In fact, these Generation Y-ers, which includes people born after 1980, are set to make up around 75-percent of the workforce by 2025. A recent article by New York Times painted a picture of Generation Y as a group delaying adulthood: waiting to get married, changing careers, jet-setting to new locations, etc. Those outside this generation may be thinking 20-somethings are just a bunch of loose cannons, and what can they bring to business anyway? A lot, actually. Here are some reasons to relax and let Generation Y show their business smarts.

How do Generation Y-ers differ from previous generations? The biggest difference is that they grew up with technology, so it feels natural to use it in the workplace. According to Forbes, Generation Y-ers have transformed workplace communication by perpetually having their smartphones within arm’s reach, making them ready to work from wherever, whenever. Further, Gen Y-ers follow the rule to BYOD, or “bring your own device,” because many prefer to use their own personal devices for work. This simplifies working on the go, which is important as 70% of organizations now support telecommuting.

Perhaps Generation Y’s biggest contribution and expertise lies in social networking. After all, where would our marketing be today if Facebook and Twitter were not involved? Sure, people love to use social media to share personal events, feelings, etc., but its influence on multiple aspects of business cannot be ignored. Not only for marketing, but also employee communication. Smartphone apps have changed the way many of us use the web, which is why a Facebook or Twitter reminder from When I Work can improve employee reliability. For Gen Y-ers, apps, mobility, and technology are just a way of life.

Although Gen Y-ers may be entering adulthood differently than past generations, they also have the skills and knowledge to make a big mark in business. Maybe they’re switching jobs, or still living with their parents, but they’ve also come into adulthood in the midst of a recession that put a hard stop to hiring and pay increases. Despite less than optimal circumstances, Gen Y-ers remain optimistic, and ready to show what they are capable of. Perhaps they’ll change the old handwritten schedule into a new mobile/online scheduling app like When I Work, or use Twitter and Facebook to create closer relationships with current and new customers. Generation Y is ready to bring their technological knowledge to the business table, so don’t worry, Baby Boomers or Generation X members, they have your back.