Not disagreeing with you either, but I think we are talking about 2 different things. I'm specifically referring to those just out of college, with little or no experience who feel they deserve the same or more than those that have been doing the same job for 10 or more years. Like coming for your first real job as a full fledged doctor and insisting on not doing things (call, late nights, weekends) the older experienced doctors are doing and requiring the same or more pay than those doctors. I have seen the same in IT, other State jobs and a few other jobs as well.
Yeah, I hear you. Before I go on, I want to be clear, I'm not trying to be argumentative and I get your point. Your perspectives are very common, and there's nothing wrong about it. It's just that this (and topics like this related to employment, management, and such) is something I am keenly interested in.
So, all that said, I guess what I'm saying is, it's a matter of perspective. Entitlement isn't the actual issue, in my opinion. It's perceptions of entitlement vs actual entitlement, and that (I believe) is largely a product of where you sit.
The experienced person is saying, "Cool your jets, turbo. You need to pay your dues. Let's see if you're just going to work out before we start talking about a corner office." I get that. Been there myself.
But if you ask some of those young kids, I think they would say, "Hey. I know what I'm worth and work is just a part of my life. If you want me to work here, this is what I expect. And if not, I'll go across the street and work for your competitor." I've read articles projecting a shortfall of qualified MDs in the 10's of thousands in the next 10 years (up to possibly over 100,000). I mean, they are in the driver's seat. And that is not unique. Just about every industry is bleeding good staff.
Education is another good example. A lot of teachers consider it a calling, and for that reason, they have always been taken advantage of. They work horrible hours, get paid peanuts, and are asked to do everything from janitorial work to security work in addition to what they are trained to do. And now, a lot of young people are saying, "No thanks. I'm going to work a reasonable number of hours during the day. IF you want me to grade papers at night, and buy school supplies from my own meager wage, you're crazy. I'm also not going to be a security guard, child therapist, or crisis intervention counselor. And now, about that salary."
So, you may have a tenured teacher who resents the young folks coming in and negotiating favorable terms. But that's not an entitlement issue; it's a resentment issue.
In the end, whether industries beat this out of the kids, or whether the kids stick to their guns and bring about some meaningful reform remains to be seen.
