Entitlement.
I have heard this word thrown around so much lately that I had to write something about it. Mostly the word "entitlement" shows up with the words "younger generation". Having fit into that description myself once before, I have to discuss what and why these words co-mingle.
After graduating college, I was offered a $27,000 job with a non-profit in Hawaii. I felt excited at the opportunity and with college debt looming in the background, I knew it was something I should be thankful for. Unfortunately, that deal fell through and instead I took a job with a corporate conglomerate for for $9,000 more.
The first couple of years I was substantially happy and pursued my MBA, but after I acquired my MBA and still was operating under the same position/title, I became discouraged. I had been made to believe by society and the educational system that holding a higher degree would get me promoted. Three years later and owning my own company, it has. However at the time I felt entitled to a different position/title and instead was offered a small raise with the knowledge that I was capped at the highest they could pay that position.
So why am I telling you all this? Is it because I felt entitled to more money, a raise, or a trophy to put on my desk? No. Simply put, I am saying that educated people have been taught that the more education they have, the more entitlement they have.
Now the younger generation also feels the same way. They have been told, much as you and I were told before them, that they are a special generation and are paving the way for the rest of the generations to come AND with their knowledge, are fixing the problems our generation has created. That is what they are being told. I never said I am telling them this, however whether they believe it or not sets the terms for how "entitled" they feel.
You can also have a wonderful new employee that you try to encourage through praise and recognition, but be careful. While this helps some people out, too much praise and recognition too soon in the game can also create a sense of entitlement in the employee. Think about it...
"I just started at a small company as their intern and bounce around from department to department. I write and do odd end jobs, but the company really seems to need me. I know no one is currently getting paid, however I know they really need me because they don't have anyone with my level of talent. The boss has told me time and time again how thankful he is to have me in the company and even awarded me with the very first recognition trophy in the company. I feel as though I will have a job here and maybe will even be the first to be paid. ;) My parents are already super proud of me!!"
Imagine that person's anger when they find out that their internship is over and they are bid well wishes without a job satisfying their hunger. Can you feel it yourself? Maybe their professor and parents even told them that they were doing a great job and have put in enough time to be brought into the company. When the final day of the internship is over and their excitement causes grief and anguish, how do they react? Pompous and full of unfulfilled entitlement.
Whether or not a person feels entitled is really not the key to the problem. The key is to figure out how much of their entitlement needs to be fulfilled in order to keep them a happy employee. The answer to this is interview screening. Figure out what they feel entitled to in the beginning before you hire them. Figure out if you can support that type of requirement BEFORE you decide if they are a good enough employee to be hired.
If you focus on scoring the candidate on an entitlement spectrum according to the company's fulfillment policy, then YOU can ensure you are hiring someone that you can please in the long term.
Because face it...we all have a sense of entitlement to something. Money, fairness, work time, holidays, paid leave, sick time, pregnancy leave, etc. Find your entitlement.
