Helicopter Much? Dear Mrs. Seguin… and all other parents who defend their children in the workplace,
I am not a parent. I am a professional in the OD/Engagement/People “Stuff” business. Part of my responsibility is to constantly stay current on all things dealing with workforce trends, engagement and leadership. I live in the real world. One of my work passions is learning about the different generations working together: Traditionalists (there are some left), Baby Boomers, Gen X, and of course the Millennials/Gen Y. Two examples floored me the past few weeks. One of them was highlighted in the news-so let’s take the non-public example first.
Lunch time: A colleague and I sat down to eat at a local restaurant. The server was pleasant-polite and helpful. He was a “kid” as we would say in Boston, which means he is probably 21! About 30 minutes into our lunch, the people in the booth behind us leaned over and said, “Excuse me, but how is your waiter”? Odd-people usually ask about the food. We took the bait, “He’s great”. Then the family of 4 said, “That’s our son. This is his first hour on the job”.
I tried to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. Seriously? You are visiting him within the first hour? Helicopter much? Their 38% tip isn’t helping him adapt to the real world. It’s one small example of why some Millennials have such a hard time transitioning to the workforce. They are slapped with reality. Your 38% tip isn’t helping them-their wallet, yes, but not their future, or expectations of the workforce.
NHL Example
Mrs. Seguin. ….I understand you want to protect your son, Tyler. I respect that. However, Tyler is a professional hockey player. Whether he chooses to act like one, is in his hands. Since being traded to the Dallas Stars, Seguin is now the highest paid player on the Stars (annual average value) and has 5 years remaining on a 6 year, $34.5 million contract. You decided to take this public by responding to the news that the Bruins hired a guard to stand outside his hotel room during playoffs to ensure he didn’t leave to party. Here it is:
“I know that for a fact. The whole team lived in the hotel. That’s crap. Oh, my God. That’s stupid stuff. That’s very unfair to say. He’s a professional. That makes me very angry.…You know what is happening? Boston is now trying to justify why they’re getting rid of Tyler. Obviously, they don’t want a fan backlash against (general manager Peter) Chiarelli. Now they’re making up stories”.”
If you don’t believe me, consider authors Tim Griffin, Winning with Millennials, and Brad Karsh, author of Manager 3.0-parents have called organizations to ask why their adult children were not hired. Parents have accompanied their adult children to interviews. SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) reports that parents have called to negotiate higher salaries or more vacation time for their Gen Y children.
When will this stop?! Hopefully more blogs and articles will highlight while your love and devotion as parents are admired, your helicopter ways will not help them adjust or cope with their careers.
Stephanie Mello, VP, @stepheeg, @emplyengagement
Sources
Yahoo Sports, Tyler Seguin’s mom says Boston media ‘making up stories’ after Dallas trade, July 5, 2013
SB Nation, Bruins trade Tyler Seguin to Stars in 7-player deal, July 4, 2013
NPR, Helicopter Parents Hover in the Workplace, February 06, 2012
Boston Herald, B’s Trade Problem Child, July 5, 2013,
