Customer Reviews

Generation Y: Thriving and Surviving With Generation Y at Work

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Peter Sheahan is interesting, entertaining and informative. One of his objectives in this book is to inform (or remind) managers that generational change in the workforce brings with it differing values and perceptions about what matters to employees. In order to harness the talents and get the best from our Gen Y co-workers, we need to understand what they might value and appreciate the differences.

Writing as one of the baby boomers who is edging towards the end of a particular phase of working life in an area where highly educated and motivated Gen X and Gen Y predominate, I think it is essential to appreciate the differences. For Gen Y workers in particular, if they are not finding job satisfaction then they will quickly move on. This has enormous impacts for organisational and workforce planning - especially in areas of highly skilled work in fields where demand for workers currently outstrips supply. It also means that we need to pay significantly more attention to the `people' factors of management.

While Peter Sheahan's book focuses specifically on Gen Y, it invites the reader to consider the differences between the generational needs of workers. This is already a challenge in a tight skilled labour market and will only increase in a labour market such as Australia's where the workforce is ageing and the demand for skilled labour is increasing.

I don't agree with every point Peter Sheahan makes, but I certainly agree that my generation of managers needs to pay far more attention to these factors than we have in the past.

And thanks to one of my Gen X colleagues for making me aware of this book shortly after it was published. It may have been enlightened self-interest, it was certainly illuminating reading.

Recommended reading for managers, supervisors and leaders.


Jennifer Cameron-Smith