De-huddled back to my desk, I search for phrases from this particular rehash of "generational workplace styles." While I can't identify the precise source being cribbed, the wording of this version from Regent "University" is quite close.
Another thing I find is that, despite beliefs on Regent's end of the political spectrum, it is corporate clichés—not Black Helicopters—with which the UN is armed. Exactly the same corporate clichés as Regent's (illustrated by celebrity photos, in the UN version).
Back to the office...
Monday: "Traditionalists (1927 - 1945)... believe in the value of hard work, loyalty, and sacrifice and have respect for rules..." Among the wisdom offered: in the old days, generations lived and worked together in families. I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying, "Tell it to the kids sent to orphanages during the Depression, when their parents couldn't support them."
The session ends with obligatory Tom Brokaw quote.
It seemed I must have nodded off and missed a day, because by Tuesday we were already on Gen X. There was much "Yay, us!" at the reading of dates (1964 – 1982). Dates that apply to all attending—except for the fossil who's a bit stuck on critical thinking.
"Gen X-ers value work-life balance, and would turn down a promotion if it's not right for them." Now that made the group squirm. They looked at each other, unsure if they had heard correctly, yet reluctant to challenge the holy writ. Even so, I heard mutters of, "turn down a promotion...?"
(When I reported this later, Clever Sister said, "For a promotion? They'd turn Granny in—to the Gestapo!")
Well, it seems our supervisor had been in such a hurry to get to Gen X that he skipped Boomers. Day 3 was his backtrack, with such out of sequence revelations as, "Boomers are hard working, competitive, had to struggle for college and careers after the war." Um... didn't there use to be cheap tuition and plenty of work (or at least for white men)...?
As the "1946 - 1964" generation is not theirs, they had nothing to say. Although the group's designated joker (and designated butt of jokes) did suggest that he might be a boomer, since the dates include 1964. "You have corns older than that!" said the [manager] boss, to much hilarity over his witticism. But the thought that Gen X also starts in 1964 did provoke speculation that generational labels may overlap. It was a real head-scratcher, as they all are so willing to believe your dates are your traits, if the text hath so decreed.
That morning's Thought of the Day: "The older generation thought nothing of getting up at 5 am to work. And the younger generation doesn't think much of it, either." The [supervisor] boss cracked himself up—30 seconds later, when the meaning of what he had read managed to sink in.
Yes, it's a very, very long week, indeed... Day 4: "Millenials grew up with multi-tasking, and want frequent feedback." This time the boss was out, so this was proclaimed by a substitute—who also objected, on the basis of her own kid's behavior. Though I would just amend this by substituting "constant feedback from peers," for anything to do with the workplace.
Resuming her reading: "Millenials expect aunotomy in the workplace..." "aunotomy"... No one heard a thing—"aunotomy" must have seemed merely a big word known to the guru of Morning Huddle.
Aside from the morning rah-rah (and knowing I am the only one of the huddled who yearns to breathe free), there are other meetings. These days, the big ones are about imminent plans for making the whole institution "paperless." It will be a dream come true, bring the Millenium, or something like that, depending on the speaker's purity of faith (or talent at parroting institutional BS).
From what I've seen so far of the plans, they will make it take much more time to achieve the same results. And there appears to be no easy way of tracking work done, following up problems discovered later, or dealing with any other big-picture needs.
But it's just part of the escalating speed of makeovers—"Do it this way"; "Now do it that way"; "It's done this other way, and has never been otherwise"—in my department as well as all other parts of the organization of which I'm aware. Following one of the pep sessions, this suddenly popped into my head—
Ho-hum... In the ongoing psychological experiment that is the workplace, this sort of thing starts to seem like just your average executive decision—
Esposito: From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish.... In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!
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