MILLENNIALS AND

FILINIALS
ETHICAL CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES
 MILLENNIALS

Here are the birth years for each

generation:
• Gen Z, iGen, or Centennials: Born 1997
– TBD.
• Millennials or Gen Y: Born 1981 – 1996.
• Generation X: Born 1965 – 1980.
• Baby Boomers: Born 1946 – 1964.
• Traditionalists or Silent Generation:
Born 1945 and before.
 LABELS FOR MILLENNIALS
• Compared with previous generations, Millennials – those ages 22 to 37 in
2018 – are delaying or foregoing marriage and have been somewhat
slower in forming their own households. They are also more likely to be
living at home with their parents, and for longer stretches.
• Today’s young adults are much better educated than their grandparents
• Millennials of being entitled, narcissistic, self-interested, unfocused and
lazy
• They were told they could be anything and do anything they wanted.
• They also have high morals and ideals, and a sense of community on a
global scale.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MILLENNIALS
• Millennials Are Achievement-Oriented
Nurtured and pampered by parents who didn't want to make the mistakes of the previous
generation, millennials are confident, ambitious, and achievement-oriented. They also
have high expectations of their employers, tend to seek new challenges at work, and
aren't afraid to question authority. Generation Y wants meaningful work and a solid
learning curve.
• Millennials are Team-Oriented
While growing up, most Millennial boys and girls participated in team sports, playgroups,
and other group activities, whether it was soccer or ballet. They value teamwork and seek
the input and affirmation of others. Millennials are the true no-person-left-behind
generation, loyal and committed. They want to be included and involved.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MILLENNIALS
• Generation Y Craves Attention
Generation Y craves feedback and guidance. They appreciate being kept in the loop and often need frequent
praise and reassurance. Millennials may benefit greatly from mentors who can help guide and develop their
talents. This is where the boomers come in handy because (though mostly retired), they havesomething to
offer and see mentoring millennials is one way they can continue to contribute to the workforce.
• Generation Y Is Prone to Job-Hopping
A potential downside of Generation Y workers is that they're always looking for something new and better.
It's not uncommon for a millennial to stay with a firm for only two or three years before moving on to a
position they think is better. The resumes you receive from millennial job seekers will undoubtedly
demonstrate this peppered job history.
Don’t discount members of this generation just because they’ve worked for several firms—these young
employees bring with them a variety of experiences. Unlike previous generations, they do not take a job and
then hold onto it for as long as humanly possible. Instead, they go out and create a new app or fund a trendy
start-up.
DIFFERENCES IN GENERATIONS
Issues Generation Y Generation X Baby Traditionalists
(Millennials) Boomers

View of ethics-related example set by senior 82% 78% 74% 46%

leadership

Preparedness to deal with ethical situations 77% 83% 81% 91%

view of ethics in the workplace best aligns with the 71% 84% 72% 84%
organization’s policies and practices

believe their company recognizes those who follow 64% 64% 56% 94%
ethical standards

Trust senior leadership to keep promise 80% 81% 75% 87%

Misconduct at work 48% 41% 37% Too little
Fear to retaliate boss 26% 34% 31% Too little
 GENERATION X
• They are already fully integrated into the job-market, pay their own rent and are
working on building and improving their career. For this generation, the work-life
balance is especially important, as they find time more valuable than money. They
strive for further development possibilities not only at work, but also in their private
life. Members of this generation were the first ones to witness the introduction of the
internet, cell phones and computers.
• When the digital world came around, generation X have already been shopping in-store
for years. Now, they are a hybrid in terms of shopping, as they still enjoy shopping in-
store. However, they also enjoy the benefits of purchasing things conveniently online.
Gen Xers are believed to be very dedicated to lists while shopping, however, they also
admit to impulse purchasing while shopping.
 GENERATION X
• This generation is known as savvy, meaning, that they make well informed choices and
purchases. This need to make informed decisions can be traced back to their skeptical
attitude towards marketing tactics and their avoidance of being a target of those,
therefore, they actively engage in research about companies and their products and
services.
• Members of the generation X are known to be more resistant towards current trends,
however, they support altruistic values of companies. Therefore, they are more likely to
support a company that offers products and services that somehow benefit the society,
communities or the environment. One example for this kind of company is Toms, who
with each pair of shoes purchased, are donating one pair of shoes to a child in need.
These “altruistic” actions are part of what made the company hugely successful.
BABY BOOMERS

• A baby boomer is someone born in the post-World War II baby

boom. A period where birth rates went up following the end of the
war.
• Boomers are hard workers and fought for equal rights.
• They are extremely loyal to their children but learnt to have a
"spend now, worry later" attitude.
Baby Boomers were a hard-working generation. And, they value that hard work. Yet, they
also have a strong desire to enjoy a higher quality of life. Some of the key characteristics
of these individuals include:
• They valued individual choice.
• They saw community involvement as necessary and essential.
• They sought health and wellness in new ways.
• They were self-actualizing.
• They wanted and worked hard to earn prosperity.
• They sought ownership of businesses and homes.
BABY BOOMERS
• They were confident in the tasks they had to do.
• They worked hard to avoid conflicts and sought a more pleasant way to
communicate.
• They adapted easily to change.
• They also had a maintained positive attitude throughout their days.
• Most are very goal oriented, but they also worked well in teams.
This generation also began the movements towards equal rights, and they
understood the pressures of failure. Yet, they continued to work hard to achieve
the goals they set out.
ISSUES THAT CAUSE MORAL FRICTION BETWEEN
MILLENNIALS AND PARENTS