Tech-savvy youth can’t beat efficient elders…or can they?

We may be more tech-savvy than our elders, but we certainly can’t apply it as well.  At least that’s what Ranstad USA, a global workforce solutions company, has to say. 

“The 2007 World of Work review finds that younger workers are the least likely to use communication tools in the workplace, including computers, faxes, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile and landline phones.”¹ 

Ranstad’s survey, which focuses on employee productivity, retention and morale, finds that the “power players,” using technology to enhance productivity, are more mature workers.  More than business youth, they value a challenge and the ability to have a more flexible work schedule.  Conversely, young workers could have more flexibility if they just applied their know-how to their careers.  And I’m officially confused… 

Millennials are notoriously known for their ability to infuse technology into their day-to-day routine to make life easier.  If given the chance, why wouldn’t we do the same at work? 

I think the answer comes down to exactly that – we’re not given the chance in most entry-level positions.  Sure, there’s a handful of millennial-friendly companies out there that give their workers the opportunity and the technology to work remotely, but the majority don’t present that level of trust right off the bat.  They throw you in a cube and that’s that. 

I think it’s absolutely possible, and probably, this survey failed to recognize that young workers lack freedom that comes with age and experience in a company.  Not to mention, how many companies provide their entry-levels with a Blackberry on day one?   

How can a survey make such a claim unless everyone is given the same treatment and the same “goodies” regardless of age and experience?  You can’t!  Unless the survey itself is flawed. 

I would love to see how the shift in productivity changes if you put everyone on the same page.  My prediction is that it would prove twentysomethings to be just as productive, if not more.  But what does everyone else think? 

This survey is popping up all over the Internet and I’m wondering how anyone can be taking it seriously.  Millennials are supposed to be technology gurus.  Is it possible that we’re just not applying it in the right way?  Or maybe my millennial ADD is just leading me towards MySpace when I should be focusing on the workplace.  Maybe I’m wrong, but it all sounds a little fishy to me. 

Enjoy the weekend.

Welcome, Wall Street Journal Readers

If you are checking in from today’s Wall Street Journal article or podcast, Welcome! 

Employee Evolution is a web site dedicated to helping our peers deal with the difficult transition from college to the real world.  We also hope to shed some light on what young workers really look for in an entry level job.  Much has been said, little is accurate.  Young people want what everyone wants; freedom, trust and excitement to name a few. Some popular posts you should check out: 

Background                 

The Paradox of Choice, Gen-Y Style

Raunchy Old Photos Will be Part of the Revolution 

Blogging Is the New Graduate School

Best Buy Gets it – Stop Watching the Clock 

Paychecks Are Boring 

Recruiting/Retaining Young Workers

It’s Always Job Hunting Season

Leaderless Organizations Make Sense, Read the Starfish and the Spider 

Change Is A Dirty Word

Millennial Praise:  Less Confetti More Counseling

A Unique Generation 

Entrepreneurship 

Learning to Run a Business: Get a Blog Not a Job

Problems With Working at a Big Company 

Guest Posts 

What Not to Wear to Work

Can I Get Part Time Benefits? 

A Survival Guide for Millennials 

Feel free to subscribe to the site, drop us an email, add a comment or submit a guest post.   

Thanks for stopping by. 

Ryan & Ryan

What’s so great about The Office?

There’s something simply brilliant about NBC’s The Office.  After an eight-hour grind, dealing with the turmoils of corporate America, who would have thought prime-time popularity would fall into the hands of the one show that throws us right back into our cubicles?  And for some reason, nobody seems to mind. 

The power of The Office is its ability to say what we’re all thinking.  The original British version put audiences in stitches.  It was only a matter of time before American TV capitalized on a sitcom that most of the adult world can thoroughly relate to.   

Recently, CNN ran an article (originally posted on CareerBuilder.com) entitled What we can learn from The Office:   

“The show is a cautionary tale serving up weekly reminders of how not to behave in a professional setting.”   

Well put, we certainly don’t want a horde of Dwights running loose in the big machine.  But as an avid viewer of the hit show, I find a peculiar comfort in the fact that when the show ends, I can profess that I’ve learned absolutely nothing. 

For me, The Office is not about learning to joke with care, avoiding brown-nosing or steering clear of “the gossip grapevine.”  It’s about identifying the oddities (and stupidities) of the typical nine to five and exploiting them.  Think about all the eccentric “characters” involved in your office world.  The Office has them all.       

So if you’ve never watched the show, catch up with some reruns this summer.  Or better yet, rent the DVDs.  If you do watch the show, keep watching…it’s a fantastic way to ease your corporate angst.  Just try not to learn too much while you’re watching it.  It takes away all the fun.