OK..I'm probably older than alot of you, 51 to be exact.
I'm a superviser at my job and alot of "older" workers have recently retired. Much younger gals are now in the office.
These women have experience in their postions and moved into my office because of the retirements.
Every one of them need constant reinforcement. The need to be told, on a daily basis, what a good job they are doing. If I have to correct one of them you would not believe the reaction!! Crying..temper tantrums..you name it.
It just seems as if they are not prepared for any kind of let down, or constructive criticism. If they are not told constantly how wonderful they are they pout.
We had a supervisors meeting recently and I spoke to other managers about my problem. They have the same thing going on!!!
I am at a loss to explain this. I have never in my life had to deal with such a crew of spoiled babies!! These women are in their 30's and have children. ARe they raising their children to believe that they are perfect and that they have no room for improvement?
This is wearing on me. If I have to spend time stroking egos all day nothing is going to get done. 
Is this the norm??
Well, I'm a member of this generation... I'm 25, and I totally agree. I think it is ridiculous the poor me and completely instable women that are part of my generation. I was raised by much older parents and fit it with people much older than myself better than with people my own age. I have a lot to learn, but maturity wise, I just clash with people my age.
On a whole - I think it comes down to the degredation of the family unit. I was just talking to my friends that equal rights are all well and good but women as a whole in my generation have completely lost the basic skills that stabilized the previous generations.
Very few women today know how to plan a menu, they don't know basic cooking terminology, they don't know how to keep a clean and neat home and they struggle with interpersonal relationships more than previous generations.
I have to admit, this will be truly interesting to see what happens to my generation in the future and to the generation that we're raising.
Rachel
It is the norm, but it shouldn't be. I am 28, and actually get tired of the whole charade. For instance, I am an art student. We have to "be positive, even when giving constructive critisism." There are so many times when a person does not even complete the correct assignment, then leave hints (or have the guts to say bluntly) that they did their "best" so they need an A. If an instructor fails a student for poor work, the student goes to the administration. So, the worst ones deserve the same grade as the best? Okay, then what do grades mean?
I am almost the same age as you,( soon to be 50).
So many of these younger people were raised with the impression that they WERE perfect, and they could do no wrong.
I have seen it many, many times in the school system. Parents don't listen to anything from school personnel about what their child has done wrong. It is always the teachers fault, or the principals fault, or the bus drivers fault etc....
Therefore a whole generation has been raised in the most part thinking that what ever they want, say, or do is right.
When I was in school, if I got in trouble at school, I was in TWICE as much trouble when I got home. Yes, I got my butt spanked.
Whatever I had done, you can bet I never did it again. Or anything else I thought would bring the same consequences. And do you know what?
I turned out to be a pretty darn good person!
Hummmmmm. What does that tell us?
Subaru: I agree so much with you. I have a neice who lives with her paternal grandparents. Everyday from K-5 until grade 6; she told them she never had homework. She was always in LD classes because of this. When they woke-up & realized that if she didn't get it together and improve her grades she wouldn't graduate. They put her fanny in gear. 
Finally.
I don't understand parents today. I got wore out; I'm not dead.
I'm 28 and get along better with older people because of this. I grew up in a work hard family because that's just how life is, hard work. My friends always complained how hard they had it at home and how much they had to do. Funny thing is when this happened there parents would have them come stay with my family for about a week. My work load was cut in 1/2 because of my friends being there and you would have thought they were dying from slave labor. When they went back home they would tell there parents sorry and then do the work with no complaints. My parents would recieve calls to thank them for their "scared to work" program. Shoot, I just laughed the whole time and was happy I got off easy because of them being there.....and NO, I didn't get paid for much work, it was for the privilage of living there and eating the food!
I feel the same way - I am 31 and I have a cousin who is 4 months older than I am. We each have daughters, mine is 2 years younger. I have worked sine I was 12, put my husband through college and worked 75 hours a week to do it. Got married, then bought a home, then had a baby. We were never handed anything and I appreciate everything I have.
She has taken every penny from my Aunt she can get. She burnt her house down from a candle, she was using candles because she "forgot" to pay her electric bill (FOR 4 MONTHS!!!!) Her 2 beautiful dogs died in the fire, and she is at the bar every night with a different guy while her 9 year old is at home alone. She thinks the world owes her.. for what I don't know. She has never been responsible for anything in her life.
Now the 250,000 dollars she got from her insurance company for her house is almost gone and her kid wears clothes that are too small while she has Coach purses and 300 dollar shoes.
I don't understand the lack of responsibility and pride.
Good luck to you!!!!!!
I'm only a couple of years behind you in age and was so frustrated with your same delima at work that I quit! (well, one of the reasons). The spoiled pansies grew up without getting their butts spanked or being told "NO" and got just about everything they wanted (not necessary everything they needed). That cr*p of doing away with grades in school (in many areas) so every child will feel successful hurt the 20-30 something generations so that they are sore losers and rotten winners. Everything had to be warm and fuzzy for them and now they can't cope.
I am 30 and talk about this all the time with my boys. Many people my age believe they should get respect because they are breathing, not because they earned it. When I was growing up you took care of your house, your room, yourself, not because you were getting payed to do it but because you were EXPECTED to do it, out of respect for yourself and your family. My boys will grow up learning that you treat others as you want to be treated and every doller you get is EARNED. Hard work seems like such a thing of the past to many of my generation and they are raising their own to be even worse. Everything is just given away, makes me sick! Sorry, but this really makes me mad how some people can be and they blame(and sue) EVERYONE else except themselves!!
Tracy
IHATEFONDANT.
I guess you're going to have to become a "HEAD CHEERLEADER" at your job! lol
maybe, put out a flyer in the break room...
"EGO STROKING"
from 1:00 pm to 1:10 pm
Ego stroking will now be held promptly from 1 to 1:10. If you chose to absent yourself from this group activity know that your quota does NOT roll over and you will lose your ego boost for the day.
You will have to attend the next day to get your fill. I can only manage these 10 minutes out of my day do stroke and massage your low self image as I, unlike those of you getting your ego stroked am doing the REAL work in this company!
I suggest that you forfeit your daily 10 minutes of ego stroking without predjudice, complaints to the union or higher ups and GET YOUR A$$ back to work to become productive members of this team.
Thank you,
Have a great day!"
Tee hee
Subaru, I totally agree with you as well.
I am 24 and my father is 51. For the past four years, I worked with my father in the summer. At his job, the majority of the workers are in their 20s and early 30s. All they do is complain all day long, about how they want the company to do this and that for them, and yet, they are willing to do nothing in return, even doing their jobs properly. Many people call in sick 3 to 4 times a month and think it's okay to take a day off here and there. They don't care about what management has to do in order to make things run smoothly without them. The majority of my dad's employees have cried in front of him whether it be from telling them they need to work faster, or if they've done something wrong. He doesn't yell at them: my dad has quite a calm demeanor and speaks positively when things go awry, yet they still cry, and want to go home.
My dad often compares his workers to me (in his head and at home). I missed one day in 4 years of work with him, and it was because of my dying grandmother. I came in to work when I was tired, sick, grumpy, etc. and yet people my age feel that the world owes something to them. They are making at least $30/hour, and some of them have lost their jobs because of their laziness. There's no where else they're going to find a job that pays that much!! ever!! and trust me, the jobs are hard, but they're in the CLEANEST and SAFEST working conditions (factory) I've ever seen!
It's the lack of discipline, and guidance that give those my age the deserved bad reputation. It's frustrating to be thrown into that group, but the majority does exude negative attitudes. I hate being in the same age bracket as these people. Those of us who realize the value of a dollar, and respect their elders, peers, and themselves are the only ones that will give any hope to our children.
I have to be a dissenting voice here. I am 32 years old (a member of the "whiny generation") and I have one thing to say: D-I-V-O-R-C-E.
Huh??
My parents got divorced when I was 9. My relationship with my Daddy basically ended then. Mom was too busy trying to make ends meet and find new male friends to really be a fantastic (or even present) Mom. I spent most of my home life alone until I got a roommate in college.
I can count the number of friends my age whose parents are still married on one hand. Literally.
Yes, we have produced a nation of adult children. I am probably one of them. I have had to toil to learn how to behave respectfully and non-childishly to my family, husband, children and friends and still struggle with it.
The lack of stability and security in my generation is rampant because we had no stable home life.
Is this an EXCUSE for this behavior? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Every adult is responsible for their own actions, behaviors, etc. and should strive to improve.
Is it a REASON for this behavior? ABSOLUTELY.
I'd like to see my parent's generation own some of their behavior instead of blaming their children. (This doesn't mean any of you folks, I'm speaking of my parents, mostly). My Dad is still mad at me for not forging a relationship with him from 300 miles away as a child. My Mom still pulls the "I did the best I could" guilt trip on me if I try to bring up the ways that their divorce impacted my life.
Um....so anyway. Yes, it's no fun when people are whiny at work..... 
)
~C
I have to agree with Rachel (your screen name is perfect in this case 
) The Family, the basic unit that has held every civilization together throughout history is almost history and it shows!
My parents are also older for having a child my age and it used to crack me up when I was younger how all my friends thought my parents were so strict and old fashioned. They never realized I had way more trust from my parents and freedom than they did. I simply chose not to do stupid things because I realized it only takes one time for something to "go wrong" and your life is changed forever.
Side note: the other thing that really irks me is when people, mainly my age, tell me how "easy I have it" and how "lucky" I am because of where I am in my life, never bothering to think that maybe all the nerdy studying instead of parting when I was younger may have something to do with it.
I'll stop my ranting
OMG did you hit the nail. This urkes me SO bad. I do agree with the one nay sayer on one count, I agree that Divorce has had a REAL impact on my generation because that was the time when it was starting to run rampant and because the parents felt guilty, they spoiled their kids trying to "sheild" them. I believe this had a HUGE impact on my generation. I don't however believe it was the only impact as I have cousis that are my age, act the same way, and they don't have that background. It is the way children were being raised in the 70's and 80's. Unfortunatly now, all of those who were raised to believe their **** don't stink are now raising their own kids the same way. I have seen friends of mine as well as complete strangers that make every excuse they can think of for their kids. Its wonderful how the kids don't even have to think of their own reasons for messing up. My kids respect my husband and I like I still respect my parents. We have asked for help when we needed it in the past, but we didn't EXPECT it, and we certainly repaid the favor. I can only hope that things will come full circle like they tend to do and maybe some good old family values and self worth will come back in the next few generations.
I'm 27 and I think that while adults don't have an excuse to be whiny alot of the blame comes from our parents. Mine were strict (military family 
) but for the most part no one is supposed to lose or get bad grades. I think that for the most part the kids people my age are raising are going to be even worse and it will be the parent's fault.
Is it a REASON for this behavior? ABSOLUTELY.
I'd like to see my parent's generation own some of their behavior instead of blaming their children. (This doesn't mean any of you folks, I'm speaking of my parents, mostly). My Dad is still mad at me for not forging a relationship with him from 300 miles away as a child. My Mom still pulls the "I did the best I could" guilt trip on me if I try to bring up the ways that their divorce impacted my life.
~C
Do you have clones of my parents? Mine are still married but my mom still says that about some of the things that went on when my dad CHOSE to leave us in one spot during his last 4.5 years of service. My dad also says it's my fault that we never got to know each other when he finally moved home because I didn't want to go hunting or looking at guns. 
I used to be an assistant manager of a bank and I'm 31 (I was in my twenties when I was doing this job) anyways my point is that the ladies were older than me and I found the same thing, I had to constantly stroke their egos all the time and if they didn't get their way all the time, I had to deal with fits as well even to the point of being called racist because one girl (whom by the way I always let her leave early and gave her days off constantly) who couldn't get the day off she wanted called me racist! I couldn't believe it! Which I am not at all!!!!!!! Anyways, she realized what she did and apologized right away and it was all sorted out...I ended up leaving that job (had a horrible boss!) and was glad I wasn't a "glorified babysitter" any longer!
Okay, one more thing. If you are an older woman who knows with or works with a woman who is whiny or needs tons of encouragement (read: insecure), please try to reach out to her.
Speaking as one of these women (who needs lots of encouragement), let me say that I am fighting hard not to be but to have other women in my life spurring me on and supporting me is invaluable.
After all, who else is going to teach younger women how to behave if not older women? Let's just say that we have a generation of women who maybe weren't parented in the best way. If you are a good parent...just use your skills and maybe miraculous changes will happen!
Okay, that's all. Really.
also blame it on a school system that has been forced and chosen to cave in to parent's demands that a child not be criticized or told they fail.
and so we have grade inflation, stickers for everything no matter how poor the quality, social promotion (can't hold them back!), and the new trend, no grades at all.
glad it won't be long before I can retire from the charade it's become!
I have a 36 yr old co-worker that has to be reencouraged. Always asks me the same questions over and over again that she already knows the answer to. It does make it difficult to work with a situation like this. So I know where a lot of you are coming from. We also had a clerical staff, 21 yr old, that while she worked there she totally changed the ENTIRE office buildings attitude. She was a complete spoiled brat and since she has been gone the new, stressful attitude has continued.
But, this isn't all of us. I'm 28. My mom left when I was 4 and my sister was 10. I was raised by my dad and my sister (who by the way at the time resented me). My dad was military and worked a lot of hours. My sister and I, I like to think and have been told, came out pretty well. Now I have 2 kids and people can't believe when I tell them that one of my son's first words was "thank you".
Just my 2cents.
I'm 36 and have been at my job for 15 years. I see the newbiews coming and the same thing--lots of people who want to get promoted quickly and tons of cat fights! It is unbelievable. The first thing I though of, though, aren't these the same people who are now going to be even easier on the generation younger than them? I mean this whole thing now in schools--can't use red ink to correct errors cause it might hurt their feelings, don't correct the misspelled word, or oh, at least they are making an effort to show up to school so let's let them pass. The stroking of the egos is being started early on in elementary schools and now kids feel that everything should be handed over to them. Sorry, I belive you need to work for what you want! And I don't hold anyone's hand-- except for my kids' and that is only when we are walking! 
I really relate to some of these posts.
I grew up in a single parent household since I Was 6. I can not say that divorce had anything to do with my outlook, the type of parenting did. 5 of us kids. The 3 older ones lived with my mom who had a la di da do what you want attitude. My twin sister and I grew up with my dad. We had rules and we respected them and him and we did our chores - not always happily but we did them because it was expected, not because there was a paycheque.
So I see these behaviours you all have mentioned in my older siblings, who are 5-11 years older than me (I'm 36) and they still go on about how their lives were hard done by. (And do the poor me thing and hold the divorce and everything else that went wrong hostage for everything that is not right in their lives now. LET IT GO ALREADY AND GROW FRIGGIN UP SHEESH!
I love that my dad was strict with us. He cared, we sat down 3 meals a day every day together, we did family stuff together. I agree on the family values degradation. A lot of what I see is that people (current kids and recently kids) are all off doing their own thing. Nobody respects spending time together, well there is a lot more to that and I'd go on forever if I got into it- it's always a huge topic for me LOL
People working halfassed at work and expecting the same pay/treatment. I 'encouraged' a young employee to quit (at A&W when I was just turned supervisor at age 21) because her attitude absolutely stank. Bored, or her friends worked there, never lifted a finger at home, and her mom came in and complained. I told her flat out her attitude sucked, well not sucked, I said something else. She wanted me to give her daughter her job back! HAHAHA You EARN your right to have a job. (I wasnt in the position to hire/fire yet lol.
My only advice to those adults that need their egos s troked constantly is GROW THE F*** UP. Go get counselling if you have issues. You're adults. Act like it. And stop hanging onto obscene behaviours because your parents made you that way. (My twin's ex hubby was like that- excuse for my insecure behaviour - blame parents- continue behaviour).
sorry for the long rant 
I have no use or sympathy for that behaviour as you can see! LOL
I think as the baby boomers had success, they indulged in their children. What I see now adays is that younger individuals don't want to pay for anything or work longer than their allotted hours. I see this across the board between my kids, my younger friends, etc.
My oldest when she was in college kept calling and complaining about her old car. The other roommates at one point or another had gotten NEW cars that the parents had bought. Mind you, we make more than all the roommates parents. She would tell the roommates "I can't help it if my parents are poor!!!" Excuse me. We live in a rather large home and my husband has a 6 figure income. We are not poor, we just chose not to buy her a new car. One lesson that I try to impart on the girls is the difference between WANT and NEED. You need food and a roof, you do not need a brand new car. That same child graduated and now works in Manhatten. She will call anyone about not paying a bill. If her cable goes out for a day, she will call and complain about the bill and being cheated. She used to whine about having to pay for stamps for the bills. She thought the roommates should have to divy it up. I would tell her, get over it, you're spending so much effort trying to shave cents of off everything and everyone. How did I get this child? Unfortunately, I can't tell you how many people I know that are like her. Any money earned is earmarked for fun and they kick and scream about spending money on anything that is outside of the fun arena.
My husband is president of a small consulting firm. ALL of his employees are younger than 30. We are very lucky though, he has great employees. However, my husband has friends who also owns businesses. Unfortunately, they have many issues with employees. One friend owns a huge bakery. He tells my husband that his employees figure out exactly what they need for rent and beer money then work for that and pretty much don't want to work for additional money. Just a different philosophy now adays. I guess my husband and I act like we were depression children. We work as much as we can and save money because next week your furnace may quit or a child may need braces.
I would like to thank all of you for your input!!
I especially like the idea of the sign.
I thought maybe I could have one made up for my desk"You are doing a great job!!You look wonderful today!!This sign only works once a day. Please go back to work and visit me again tomorrow!!"....
I'm glad it is not just me that sees this kind of behavior. Misery loves company I guess. 
I will take some of your suggestions into consideration. I must do something or I will go out of my mind.
Thanks everyone!!
I am with Doug........I think the public school system has left a lot to be desired, as a product of a Private school where where teachers weren't afraid to call home, where 90% of parents were very involved in the kids schooling....and trusted what the teachers told them was correct! That certainly is not the case these days, my Mom works at a school (just K-1st) and they actually have a parent who sat in the parking lot of a neighboring business to make sure that her child was not DENIED recess for poor behavior......and if he was, she would go in screaming! Lets see.....we can't swat onery kids, we can't tell them they are being bad (might hurt their feelings), we can't take away any privleges...hmmm whats left people!
When I met my husband 6 years ago he was a teacher...but you know what he couldnt deal with the cr&p anymore....schools who dont have books because they want to use the money for something else, and teachers only getting one ream of paper per month (keep in mind they dont have textbooks for the kids so my hubby had to copy the pages he wanted them to work on)....parents who yell and scream at the teachers and give no fault or blame to the child...
He has now been out of teaching for almost 5 years...and says it has saved his sanity....isn't that sad....good teachers leaving the profession.
By the way I am 28 and I really don't think age has much to do with a persons work ethic, I have certainly seen both sides to the situation.....when I used to stay late and fix my co-workers gazillion mistakes because if I pointed it out I was treated like cr&p for 2 weeks...so it was just easier to correct after she went home (and she was in her 50's).....or when she went out for one of her 25...20 minute smoking breaks (but don't get me started on that)...
frankandcathy.......I agree with you 100%! Divorce has been such a culprit. Moms are usually too busy/stressed out to manage their homes/kids.
Another big culprit is the school system's concern for a child's self-esteem; therefore, everyone gets a gold star for medicore, or worse, work. Self-esteem comes from accomplishments, not phony/undeserved kudos. After a few years of teaching at my high school, I decided not to give my students "D" grades any more--anything below a "C" is an "F." Many were willing to settle for a "D" because it is a passing grade. How lazy!
I teach part-time at a local college, and the old-timers there have told me that they've noticed a total deteriation of social skills from their students over the last 20 years. Yet these same students have a very strong sense of entitlement. One student told me I was "too picky" with her work because I pointed out "minor" errors, such as misplaced commons. Uhhh....it's an English class; get a clue! One student was enrolled just to play baseball (his words to me). When I dropped him for not attending, he had a fit because "I" had just screwed up his financial aid! Grow up!
I simply cannot tolerate such bratty behavior. I set them straight when I can, but it's basically up to them to make the necessary changes.
Sorry for the rant, but these kids really need some guidance.
I'm in my mid-40"s and the mother of 3 sons, ages 20-26. My sons are a member of this younger generation, but all have been taught the value of hard work and MANNERS! My husband was determined they were going to be contributing adults, so he had the company he worked at hire each of them during the summers starting when they were teens, and give them the dirtiest jobs available. It made them appreciate their education and the value of earning a dollar. As parents, we always supported their teachers and backed them up at home...that is a big part of what is missing today. If they were "bored" or thought something was too hard, we would tell them they could do twice as much more! Now, I hear my 23 and 26 year old son complain of having co-workers that don't want to work and they get frustrated with it! So...have hope....there are great younger members of society out there too!
So interesting to read all these comments. I used to teach in a Catholic School (grades 5-8 and one year of kindergarten) and always loved the first quarter observing each child's personality and work habits, etc. I had some students that were very organized, responsible, would hang on every word you said...and then there were those, of course, who never turned in homework, wouldn't pay attention, came to school with wrinkled or messy clothes, etc.
The part that was so interesting to me was to meet some of the parents for the first time at Parent Teacher Conference and see how much these children are such a smaller version of their parents! I remember one dad in particular walking in with sloppy wrinkled looking clothes and his bedhead hairdo and understanding why his son seemed to take little pride in his appearance everyday. The students who did well were from those parents who were involved in their child's life, those who supported the school and teachers and those who volunteered and played an active role.
I remember one occasion being on playground duty when I taught 5th grade and witnessed one of my students punch another boy three times because he was mad. I had been having difficulty with this boy all year (AND his mom because he would turn in assignments that were in HIS MOM'S handwriting!! ). When I called her to tell her what happened on the playground, she was rude and defensive. 30 minutes after the phone call the principal came to me and said that the mom was in her office and would like to sit down and visit about this. When I walked in I was SHOCKED to see that this 30 year old woman brought HER OWN MOTHER to the conference as well!! What was up with that?
She proceeded to cross her arms and say to me in a smug tone, "I would like to hear YOUR side of the story." What??! Anyway, the principal informed the mom that this boy would have a one day in-school suspension and would miss the field trip our class was planning. The mom looked at me and said, "Well, I'm not going to punish him at home." I told her that was her choice as his mother, but that he would have consequences at school for his abusive behavior. Guess what...the day of his scheduled in-school suspension, his mother kept him home! So when he returned to school, the principal gave him 2!
You couldn't help feel a little sorry for the boy. His mom was helping to create that lack of respect and responsibilty in him. That's what he was growing up with.
I found out that about 5 years later he was suspended in high school for smoking pot and other behavior and the mother called a fellow teacher of mine and was all upset and crying and looking for help. My friend said, "So many of us teachers TRIED so many times to tell you that you were creating this yourself. You chose to defend your son and look past whatever he had done and unfortunately it's coming back to haunt you."
It's hard being a parent. And so many times my husband and I feel like we are in the minority trying to raise 3 children with values, morals and a work ethic. It may be hard work now...but you reap what you sow, I believe!
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