there is no way to harness us, we have infiltrated your system, and are taking over. ha, ha, ha (evil diabolical laugh)!

The scary part is that the system (after being infiltrated by the diabolically laughing Gen Yers) might come to a screeching halt because of their lack of ability to make decisions without instructions and/or the permissions found in the structured environments of play dates, scheduled recreation, etc. Alas, they will have a steep learning curve, especially in industries that require initiative and tenacious drive. But like everyone else they will get through it just fine once they are motivated by ambition and money. Then they can join the rest of us in complaining about the next generation.

How about a good hard spanking and then confining them to their cube for the rest of the day.

Hold It --
Danielle, I'm curious about your research on this generation -- or why this one starts in 1979 -- and I'd point you to this excellent resource on generational dynamics (and marketing):

http://www.genimperative.com/meet.html

Its founder has done tons of research on the "5 Living Generations." Name of Chuck Underwood.

Maybe in my part of the country (S.Dakota; seriously) everyone just has a more hardcore work ethic, but every Millenial in my shop is relentlessly self-driven, reliable and focused. Your indictment really has way more to do with the Boomer moms and dads. To wit: "a generation...advocated for." So take a harder look at the advocates.

Meantime, Underwood points out (in work you have to pay for to see, and I have) that Millenials actually have way more in common with the WW II Generation than mine. I'm Gen X, and my folks were Boomers too -- but we're miles apart in what makes our respective generations unique.

And by the way, Underwood would argue that, actually, it was the Boomer generation was the "most advocated for." Email me for details. Very cool stuff.

I'm sorry for being so vague on this...but since reading this post this morning...this has haunted me all day...

I read??/saw on TV?? a story about colleges having troubles with Millenials/GenY parents interfering in "college life". Some univeristies going so far as to ban parents from campus and saying that the kids were going to have to learn to live on their own at some point.

Did I dream this...or can someone else clarify?

I find your characterization offensive. I'm Gen Y, a college grad, and have had a professional job for several years. I have never heard of any of my friends having their parents interfere with their work. I don't know these people. I do know a lot of fiercely independent people, who left home once and don't plan to return.
If this interference does happen, it's a return to tribalism, which might not be so bad in this disconnected world.

Chris - you aren't dreaming it. I read a similar article in the Sunday paper and was astounded.

I have witnessed parents that I thought were too involved in their adult children's lives, but not to the extent that they called professors and supervisors to complain about grades and reviews.

As a parent, I understand what it is like to want to protect and shelter your children, but at some point, you have to let them learn how to make decisions and live their own lives. I believe that it is possible to do this and still have a meaningful relationship with your children.

"But like everyone else they will get through it just fine once they are motivated by ambition and money." There is more to life than false ambition and money. I was born in 1980. I watched my parents make their lives a cycle of hard work and television. I'm not aggressive at work, I don't do overtime or make a lot of money. But I do my job well, and consider pay raises an additional bonus. It's unrealistic to expect I will work at the same company for more than 5 years during my life. I've watched a generation scrimp and save, and move up the ladder, with little to show for it. Even though I work for someone else, in reality I work for myself. I can see how this might seem "inadequate" in your system, but lets see who's on top when your system is replaced by ours.

Isn't it about time we stopped confusing marketing segmentation (brought to us by countless vested interests) with business reality? Gen Y is entering the fray during enormous global upheaval. We need to be smart about supporting them and they need to bring their unique contributions to the table. There is not one minute left for this kind of self-absorbed, competitive navel-gazing.

This article is on the mark. I am a Gen-Xer and over the past several years I've seen Boomers who can’t stay out of their children’s' lives. I heard coworkers spend significant amounts of time on the phone at work intervening (advocating, saving, pushing) their children on trivial issues. Excessive parental involvement is an issue that impacts the parents' organizations—not just companies that hire Millennials/Gen-Y. If parents respect their children, they would give their adult children the freedom to make choices and allow them to experience their consequences.