These kids don't want to work.

This is Jayden, also known as Jaybird, Bird, Jay, and most importantly this boy is known as my son. Jayden is a 15-year-old student athlete who is on the honor roll and is a great role model to his younger sister. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me this photo of my son as he handed her a small blizzard at Dairy Queen, where my son works. The smile on his face got me thinking back to a recent construction conference that I had attended, where I was encouraged to ask more questions of those who work around me. So, I asked Jayden why he loved his job at Dairy Queen so much. Without blinking, he said it is because he can select his availability each week to work around sports and school, he was given great training, he works with fun co-workers and has a clear reward system where he can earn company swag like hats and hoodies. Above all, Jayden says his boss is fair, always has his and his fellow co-workers’ backs, and her expectations are always clear.

Jayden’s response prompted me to reflect on my own experiences. My first job was in a small-town department store, where I had a store manager who was friendly and set clear expectations for me and my workers. I later started my career when people my age were coined ‘millennials’, which did not have the most positive connotation back in 2007. I worked in staffing, and I worked hard and tried my best to learn as much as possible because I started to truly enjoy the work I was doing. I had the privilege of working with people who have now become long-life friends. I worked with amazing clients who I was able to charm over the phone and through email before meeting them in person. When they met me, they couldn’t believe I was a 22-year-old kid who was filling their staffing needs. I quickly learned the importance of being as efficient as possible, and the art of winning others over, which I have since learned is one of my greatest strengths. As I reflect, I can think of many situations in which I had clients question my talent due to my age and I vowed to respect everyone in the workforce regardless of their age. I would use my ability to win others over to leverage their talents and experience to obtain my goals and the goals of the organizations I worked for.

When I transitioned into a Human Resources role, particularly into the construction industry, I began to hear people use the phrase, “These kids don’t want to work”. To this day, I resist the urge to feel defensive when I hear that phrase. I have been known as a young kid who did not want to work, simply because of my age when, on the contrary, I worked countless hours and put in an infinite amount of effort to become the best at what I did. I was awarded as the best a time or two in my staffing years, as a 22-year-old “kid”.?

So, to those people who say, “These kids don’t want to work”, I say meet my Jayden. He strives to do his best and most of the time makes my job as a mom easy. Our son is given enough room to make smart choices, make some mistakes, and is provided with guidance when needed. Sometimes, it is very stern guidance, in the form of limited social activities or the loss of his cell phone for a couple of days. We are no parenting experts by any means, but if I could copy and paste my son’s attitude and joy for working with every person I hire, I would consider myself highly successful at Ellingson , the construction company I work for. He is just a kid, a kid who loves to learn, work, and make money.

To all those people who say, “These kids don’t want to work”, I say meet Hunter, a 21-year-old construction employee who was recently promoted into a Foreman role at Ellingson. Hunter grew up in the area around Ellingson and he knew people who worked here and, but most importantly, Hunter knew there were a lot of opportunities for growth and advancement. He started with Ellingson as a Laborer after he graduated high school and quickly worked his way into an Operator role. After just two and a half years of employment, Hunter was promoted into a Foreman role and runs a plow and a whole crew. When asked what is like being a Foreman on a crew, Hunter will let you know that is has always been something he wants to do, and he gets immense satisfaction from being able to smoothly and efficiently run a crew. Hunter will also admit that leading a crew is also an intimidating part of his new role. He understands the expectations are high and he has people relying on him to do his job accurately and efficiently. With all the pressure on his shoulders each day, Hunter shows up and does the work and he does it well.

When you hear, “These kids don’t want to work”, I want you to think about 21-year-old Madi who grew up with a passion for agriculture. At a young age, Madi was very involved with 4-H, showing the Hereford cattle that she owns as well as her dogs at county and state fairs. She has competed at the state level judging livestock with the organization Future Farmers of America. Madi obtained an accounting degree and started her employment with Ellingson as an Accounting Associate and was happy to find a company who was a part of the agriculture industry. Madi has learned so much and has made contributions that have improved some of the company’s processes and again, in just under two years of employment, Madi has obtained her first promotion into a Staff Accountant. She has a bright future ahead.

When someone tells me, “These kids don’t want to work” I want to introduce them to Alex, a 22-year-old Operator who was given a job offer at Ellingson before he graduated high school. Alex grew up seeing construction and farm equipment and it lit a fire inside of him as a child, so he made the decision to work in construction. Before interviewing at Ellingson, Alex worked as a line cook in a small kitchen for three years. During his interview, he informed us that he had taken it upon himself to obtain his OSHA 10 certification. To say the least, we were very impressed with his willingness to obtain a 10-hour certification before even landing a job offer in the construction field. Alex started his employment as a Laborer and within two years of employment, he worked himself into an Operator role. Not only does Alex show up to work and accomplish his own tasks and goals, but he is a team player who also jumps in to train new hires and assist with anything that is required on job sites. Alex creates social media content demonstrating the variety of trucks, cars, and recreational vehicles he has been able to buy as a young person in the construction industry, but also showcasing the work he does because he understands that the work he does is important. If you ask Alex how he feels about the “work” he does after four and a half years, he will tell you that he is living his childhood dream and the fire for what he does has yet to be put out.

Centuries ago, Socrates was rumored to have said, "The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, and tyrannize their teachers”. What’s my point you ask? The next time you find yourself in situation judging the new “kid” on the job site who does not know how to put on his hard hat, or a new “kid” who doesn’t know how to set up a calendar invite, take a moment and teach them. Remember back to when you were in the situation where you were being judged for being a “kid” at your new job. Talk to them and get to know them. Train them, care about them and you might find your next Jayden, Hunter, Madi, or Alex.