Please note that this article was originally published on April 28, 2023, and has been subsequently updated.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The catchphrase “Okay, Boomer” has become the ultimate expression of conflict between Gen Z and Millennials, but Boomers have grievances against both generations. Despite lacking the same level of experience as their older counterparts, younger workers are now equally exhausted. Expressions like “nobody has the desire to work anymore” gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with the “great resignation,” in which many workers either quit or were let go. However, Boomers are now witnessing the considerably greater challenge the younger generation faces in securing employment compared to the 80s or 90s. Mike Kelly posted on Facebook, delineating all the obstacles that the younger generation confronts as part of the workforce.
Representative Image Source: Pexels | Karolina Grabowska
The post states, “The process is considerably more arduous than when I was young. Wandering around dropping off resumes is no longer effective. No one will engage with you.” Kelly explained, “Completing online applications is worse than doing them in person. They demand a resume and a cover letter, and then you provide the same information on their application.” He also highlighted how hiring managers fail to initiate contact with potential employees and avoid any form of communication or follow-up questions. “Until you are hired, the employer will never, and I mean never, get in touch with you.” Additionally, he drew comparisons to the application process in the 1980s.
Kelly wrote, “In the 1980s, when I applied for jobs, I would receive polite rejection letters if I wasn’t a suitable candidate. Now, I’m simply ghosted.” “We live in a litigious era where almost any excuse can lead to a lawsuit, and companies are well aware of this. Instead of sending rejection letters or making phone calls, employers apply the ‘silence is golden’ rule when dealing with unhired individuals.” Kelly also emphasized that both pay and benefits are unimpressive in the present day. “As someone who supports labor unions, I attribute this to their absence. Regardless, the situation is terrible.” Despite the generational divide between Boomers and Millennials, finances serve as a significant motivator for both groups. According to a survey conducted by Olivet Nazarene University, 84% of Millennials and 75% of Boomers stated they would leave their current jobs for better salaries elsewhere.
“To my peers of the same age: your millennial children and acquaintances are struggling,” expressed Kelly. He added, “Businesses can be as terrible as can be. I’m unsure about the solution, but it seems things will worsen before improving, especially if the ‘people don’t want to work these days’ narrative gains traction. By perpetuating this notion, we grant these unscrupulous corporations even more power.” His post quickly went viral, amassing over 8,200 shares and attracting 700 comments. Many individuals appreciated and thanked him for voicing these ideas. In a comment, Christy Cheyenne Prince wrote, “Thank you. Thank you so much for understanding. Thank you so much for not dismissing us as ‘cry babies’.” Anna Abigail remarked, “You come across as a genuinely kind and thoughtful person. The world would be a better place with more people like you. Keep it up, good sir!”
Source: scoop.upworthy.com
