Ironically, this dialogue has been heard in tandem with complaints from employers who have given young people a go and have been disappointed, blaming what they describe as the enigma known as Generation Y.

So why do Generation Y appear to be more difficult to manage in the workplace than previous generations?

And, given they are Australia’s fastest growing work segment, what can be done to motivate and engage them, and more importantly, keep them in a job?

To understand what makes Gen Y tick we need to reflect on how and why this generation has been raised very differently from their predecessors.

For starters, parents of Gen Y were bombarded with modern child-rearing advisories all emphasising healthy self-esteem as the key to producing happy, and more importantly, successful, offspring. The trend was to focus on achievement rather than failure, on talents rather than flaws, in a world where the word "loser" was taboo because everyone was a winner right?

These same children entered classrooms where authoritarian styles of teaching had given way to a more collaborative approach involving questioning, idea sharing, and self-directed learning.

At a time of unprecedented affluence, this generation became accustomed to an environment of almost instantaneous gratification, with the rapidly burgeoning information age allowing access to communication and social networking around the clock. 

The result is, we have produced an unparalleled generation of young people, bursting with self-confidence, prepared to take on challenges, used to communicating effectively across multiple channels, with extremely high expectations for their futures – including their careers.

However, the majority of these young people are starting work later in life, with little or no previous work experience, often live at home where their parents shoulder the household chores, and have never had to handle serious responsibility, including a commitment to a job to bring home a pay packet.

The irony is the very generations that seem baffled as to how to get the best out of these youngsters are the same generations that worked so hard to create this new wave of talent for the future. Their expectations need to fall in line with the unique generation society has created.

Australian Business Apprenticeships Centre is working to help businesses crack the Gen Y enigma and unleash the unique skills and talents of the so-called "me" generation and to use new ways of management to keep them engaged and motivated.

We are hosting free forums around NSW and the ACT, facilitated by consulting organisational psychologist, and Gen Y specialist, Danielle Buckley, to help employers rethink how they can accommodate their management practices to get the best from Generation Y. 

We cover simple techniques that employers can implement immediately, such as how to develop a working agreement  to ensure a clear understanding of workplace expectations from day one, and how to set  firm goals with young employees that keep them engaged and motivated.

We also look at the top 10 reasons apprentices finish their training, and other ways to increase apprentice motivation, with plenty of time for employers to ask questions and to share their ideas and experiences.

For anyone baffled as to what is going on with Gen Y in their workplace these very interactive forums are a must to attend. 

Andrew Williams is general manager of Australian Business Apprenticeships Centre.

The next Coaching your Gen Y employees to success seminar will be held on Wednesday, June 5 at the Dapto Leagues Club at 4.30 pm. The workshop is provided as part of the Federal Government’s Mentoring and Advisory Program. For more information contact Australian Business Apprenticeships Centre on: 1300 192 322.