Millennials care about job security

I think it's a myth created largely by corporate America that millennials don't care about job security. Every millennial I know would love job security, but corporate America simply does not offer it anymore. So here we have an example of corporate America perpetuating a myth to cover the fact that they treat employees as disposable commodities.

Yes, I do think it's true that millennials are more focused on keeping their skills "market ready," but I also think the reason for that is that they know they can't trust any one employer to offer longevity.

This mindset started back with Gen X, a generation that grew up disillusioned with corporations and government entities because they watched their parents get screwed over by them.

Found this on another forum, but with all the talk about older versus younger employees and age discrimination here, I thought it fit well.

Comment! It's anonymous!

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Dear Millenials;

You are correct. There should be zero loyalty to the organization. If you are lucky enough to grab onto a rocket you should ride it as far as it can go and then bail when it starts to turn. Time and time again I have seen Loyal, hardworking employees sacrifice their families, finances and their health to carry a company through a tough period only to be sacrificed when the situation turns around and new management is hired.

You see Grasshopper, you won't be the person who stayed and starved to keep the company afloat and customers onboard while new products were developed. You will be the person who didn't sell anything for X years ( a loser ) and the new management will want only Winners on their team to go with their new, exciting products.

A HUGE piece of the equation is that senior management knows the company owes you for your loyalty and sacrifice and they have no interest in rewarding you because that means fewer accolades and options for them. Because "we all know" the turnaround wasn't the result of a lot of people sacrificing and working hard. The turnaround literally occurred the second your new HotShot CEO and his pals from B School showed up.

Here endeth the lesson.

Hm4. I believe you are hitting the nail on the head. Watson Sr’s great invention was he realized his employees made him a fortune. He adopted “respect for the individual” as his mantra, and it carried IBM forward up until Gertsner. Like it or not, folks joined IBM because they knew IBM would treat them with respect. Gertsner took that asset (treat employees with respect) and milked it till it was dry. Sam and Ginni have continued down that path. No more respect, but rather cogs. Folks will say “well times have changed”. My response is “respect for the individual” was and continues to be one of the best employee recruitment tools ever invented. There are a pile of well respected old line companies who still value their employees, and “new” line companies who recruit on “respect for the individual”. These companies are stealing IBM employee assets everyday. When you devalue your employees, and throw decades made “values/promises” to the wind (Eg healthcare , and retirement being the largest long term values) , then your employees see what your company is really made of. YES I know changes have to be made to adapt!!! That’s what life is about!!! IBM Had to make changes to adapt, BUT when you change and only honor your promises to the minimum government requirements, don’t complain when employees get upset with you. It’s criminal how IBM has treated their retirees and long term employees that they have let go. In the USA healthcare is a true big issue, and IBM treats healthcare as a profit center for their retirees. The long term employees who didn’t make retirement are completely out of luck. That’s not respect for the individual, but rather screwing the employees to make a buck. Somewhere along the line, IBM forgot what brought them to this party.

Thread regarding IBM layoffs

Millennials care about job security

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