gen Y
June 23, 2016Someone elder said to me the other day; “I don’t understand your generation. Why you people like that ah?”
Defensive, I jumped back and said, “Whatttt!”
“You people are very unhappy and unsatisfied all the time. You want a lot of salary with only a few years experience, you never want to do things outside your scope and you are never excited about anything. Give you benefits and perks also, not happy. Give you increment also not enough even though your work is mediocre. Give you ownership of a project also, and then when things go wrong, you don’t take ownership. What do you people want ah?” – the conversation was longer, but basically this was the gist.
Ok. I sat back down. Because honestly, I know this problem. As an employer, I too face this issue (not all of course!! I love my team!! But I know this problem too). Do you know they call us the Strawberry Generation? The softies that can’t be scolded or else will bruise easily. I read an article once and they called us the Unicorns, the unrealistic ones who think we’re all that.
I heard a bunch of girls in a restaurant talking and they were all complaining about their jobs. “Hate my boss,” “I really wanna quit,” “Got scolded by that b****,” “Haven’t gotten a raise in a year!” all came out. And I might be biased because I’m an employer but not once did the girls mention how good they are at work. It’s all what people do to them and what makes them unhappy, but it’s never questioning or reflecting on whether they themselves are hard-workers or are they just doing what they’re told to do. I was really trying to eavesdrop (haha kepoh, sorry), and I had a burning desire to join that table and ask, “Do you guys do beyond your work?” “Are you a big complainer?” “Is there anything your boss did that was nice but you choose to not speak about?” “Is there a reason why your boss should give you an increment simply because you’re doing your job?” These are not condescending questions, I’m simply wanting to ask them have you thought about the other side, not just your side. A lot of the times, these people who b**** about their bosses, their bosses have a lot of unhappy things to say about their work too. So one problem; we’re big complainers and we skew our thoughts to only think about us.
Honestly it’s really hard to find genuinely passionate staff and this is a problem nationwide I think. There are more people who hate their job than those who love, and if you ask anyone, no one is happy with their salary. Everyone always wants more, and going to work is just a routine thing that doesn’t stem from excitement. When I started work for my dad, I was a fresh grad. I got all A’s in all exams even from primary school, I held a law degree from one of the best unis in the world, I was ready to rock the career ladder… and my dad offered me RM 1,500 to start. Like really, not lying. It’s not that he couldn’t afford, but he wanted to teach me the value of earning your own. My take-home pay was of course less than that, but I lived with my parents so I didn’t have to pay rent or food. And admittedly, my parents helped with big expenses so I was lucky. Among my peers, I was earning the least but I gave the job my all. When I started FV, I paid myself nothing for a while. After it was stable, my salary was RM 500, then slowly RM1,000. Still lived with my parents so I didn’t have to pay for utilities. Of course, back then also, I had no responsibility like kids and all. And I think this is the same case for a lot of the younger workforce, they still live with their parents. But the difference is that their starting salary now, they want it to be RM5K. I’ve asked during an interview before, “Why do you think you should get paid that amount?” Answer was, “Because my friends said that is the norm and I should get paid that much.” I probed again, “Ok. What do you think you can bring to the table in return for that pay?” Answer was, “Well, I am willing to learn. And I’m a fast learner!” Ok that’s great that you want to learn, but in a competitive world where 5 more people are after your job, I want to see what you can contribute. That’s where things go wrong in interviews, because you’re not thinking how the company will benefit if they hire you. Second problem; we have a huge sense of entitlement. And we don’t know why we’re entitled. But we just are. And believe me, nothing is ever enough. It’s ok to demand, but we need to have solid justifications ready as to why we are worth that much.
UPDATE: I am getting a lot of comments on how RM1500 is not enough now. What I said above is my experience from 8 years ago and certainly things have changed now. My point isn’t the specific value. I am NOT saying that RM1500 is enough now or not, that is not my point here. I am saying that we demand a high salary immediately and when asked, we don’t know how to justify if we’re worth that much. Also that we’re doing our jobs without excitement or sincerity. Please do not twist my words. See my replies to comments in Comment No 33 and 41 (since I can’t reply to each comment, I also touch on higher costs of living in our country). Also, I knew I was going to get the worked-with-daddy-so-lucky-you-don’t-deserve-to-say-anything comments, I can’t change that part of my life and I’m very grateful for it, but people seem to like to believe that all people who work with their dads are immediately spoiled brats who sit on gold thrones and call their friends to chat. I can’t change your opinion, nor should I try to, but hope you don’t use that specific dissatisfaction towards me to mask a bigger issue that I’m trying to address. It’s bigger than just me.
Comparative to some of my other entrepreneur friends, I’m pretty lucky with the team at FV. But I’ve had this one case where this person wanted to quit. So I had a heart to heart and asked, “Why?” Answer was, “I’m unhappy.” I asked, “Unhappy about what?” “I don’t know… I just feel like I’m doing the same thing everyday. I’m bored.” I asked, “Ok but that is what your job entails. You knew this. And to be honest, you haven’t mastered your work because you still do a lot of things wrong. When I ask you to help out with other departments, you are not interested in doing other things to learn new things. So how can I help you if you’re already bored?” Silence. This person has been working for 2-3 months btw. So there’s that problem as well; we are impatient and we get bored easily. We want to be rich or successful like yesterday. We hate long term benefits, we only want to see what we can gain next month. We don’t know why we’re not being promoted after a year. A year is like a decade in the Gen Y world. Two years? Omg, I should be CEO already.
We also cannot be commented on. We do x amount of work, and think we are giving our all to it. And sometimes when I hear stories of our older generations at work, I’m like wowww now that is hard work, that’s so inspiring. With our generation, our ego is high. There’s a lot of “You can’t talk to me like that”, “That’s not my job”, “I feel so under-appreciated here”, and I kid you not (this has happened to me), the moment you scold, you will get a resignation letter the next day. We cannot be scolded. Even if we’re wrong. Because we feel that our pride is bruised, and screw this, another company will take me and treat me better.
I was thinking long and hard about this. How did we get here? Because our older generations are not like this. They are complaining about us, saying that we are the most difficult generation to crack.
So I thought of some reasons:
1) Our parents tell us we’re perfect
God bless my parents. They will rip you apart if you tell them anything wrong with me. I feel that way with Daniel and Mariam too. But this doesn’t help with their future. When you constantly hear about how good you are, you get big headed. You feel entitled to good things and praises, so the moment you don’t get it, you just don’t understand why.
And if you’re not doing well at work (even if it’s because you yourself are not working hard), your parents only tell you to find work at another place where you’ll be appreciated more. It’s never fix ourselves. It’s always they don’t know what they’re missing, so forget them, go somewhere else. If you have to work late during peak periods and even if you’re fine, your dad will keep calling and your mom will be really sad seeing her son/daughter work till late. They will say “So kesian my child…”. Heck, I’ve had so many encounters with parents of staff e.g. moms calling to tell me their child is on MC today, dads coming to interviews with them, conversations that start with “My mom told me to say x and y…”. We become very manja because of our parents.
See, my friends abroad don’t have this because they’re not with their parents. So they don’t pamper themselves with praises and instead they just improve improve improve until they get so good. They don’t have this big sense of entitlement.
2) Social media
We live in the social media era where we’re exposed to the happiness of others and materials that they have. So we could be perfectly happy with our lives but then we see someone else’s better life and think omg why don’t I have that. Like out of nowhere, our contentment suddenly changes so quickly. We start over-analysing our own lives and point out what’s wrong with it. Instead of focusing on the good of it. And it’s all because of one post that a girl put of her new handbag. If we think about it, it’s pretty silly. One thing we don’t have and another person has it, and we suddenly forget everything good about our lives.
How to fix this? (a) take social media with a pinch of salt. People post what they want you to see. Nobody’s life is perfect. (b) Don’t forget to be grateful. Always be grateful with your life because everyone’s life is cut differently. Once we are truly content and grateful with what we have, there won’t be this sense of unhealthy discontentment and the feeling that nothing is ever enough.
With social media also, we become narcissistic. Everything we post is about us, about our lives, so with the technology that we have, it’s all me-me-me and my selfies. I’m guilty of this too, so umm less selfies now.
3) Spend spend spend
Malaysia especially is a very mall-focused place because it’s too hot to enjoy the park or just have a nice stroll with your family. What do you do on weekends? Malls. What do you see at malls? Shops. What else can you do in malls? Eat. Every one of these requires us to spend money, and it’s basically the same activity all the time. It can get pretty mundane and we have to spend so much money on the weekend to spend time with our family. A day indoors is the only alternative, which could get boring after a while. So maybe this is why our generation feels like we need more and more money. Because everything is spend spend spend. So we need to earn earn earn. Hence why so many Gen Y have secret side businesses to earn side income, and even uses working hours to do work for this side business (e.g. even something we think is so harmless like posting an instagram post for that business), which I find quite dishonest and against your amanah to your employer.
Why does this happen? Why do we feel the need to spend spend spend? I’m going to be very unpopular for saying this but it’s the truth. Because we are all trying to live outside of our means, and we all want to keep up with others. We see what they have and we need to be better. We are very competitive and sometimes jealous people, but it’s only going to eat ourselves from the inside. When I went to San Fransisco and met some of the richest there, they’re sitting in cubicles cracking codes. In their culture, material things are not priority. But over here, the designer bags and BMWs are necessary to prove we are successful. Even if we can’t afford it, we will borrow so we can get it. Where did this come from, you think? That’s why credit card debt is so high amongst our generation and that’s worrying.
4) The rise of entrepreneurship
More and more, people our generation are being taught entrepreneurship and role models of success seem to only be entrepreneurs now. Unless you own something, you’re not successful – is the kind of message we are giving to young people. Which I think is so wrong. Just like any other subject in school, not everyone likes or is cut out to be or is even interested to become an entrepreneur. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Not everyone wants to devote their lives to building something from zero in hope to make it big, because really, there’s a huge risk attached to entrepreneurship. Most people hear the good stories only, but they ignore the bad stories of businesses failing. So there’s this beautiful cloud being associated with entrepreneurship, more seminars and talks that actually chant “Saya mahu kaya, saya mahu kaya, saya mahu berjaya!” that I find bizarre. It seems that now success means entrepreneurship, and this is giving the young people pressure that they have to start something of their own, or not they’re not successful. That’s why I decline to give talks to inspire people to become entrepreneurs because honestly, I never want to give people that kind of pressure. I don’t believe everyone should aspire to be an entrepreneur. You do what you love to do, and just because you work in a company as an employee, doesn’t mean you can’t be successful being that.
5) The weather?? Maybe??
No seriously, don’t laugh. When we are constantly hot, we get very angry and uncomfortable. It’s seriously depressing to walk outside because it’s so hot most of the time now. We get moody and never in the mood to work happily. Some of my friends abroad earn a normal amount, they have to pay rent and utilities and bills, they don’t have cars and have to take the public transport everywhere… and honestly they are so happy and content (again, not general here. I’m just talking about the few people I know living there and don’t want to come back). Because it’s so nice and breezy there (apart from summer) and you get to go to the park and walk around and just be happy. I loved my time in London and I realize it’s so much to do with the weather! Over here, people are complaining about how hot it is and because we’re left sweaty, smelly and uncomfortable, we can’t be happy and productive. Remember that big war that happened during the hottest summer ever? People were hot and angry, y’all!!
I could only think of these for now, but I found it so interesting that this Gen Y stigma is becoming more and more of a problem. Of course this is not applicable to ALL OF US, I know some reallyyyyy hardworking people at FV and people who have come up to me and said I love my job so much. But I also know a lot of people on the other end of the spectrum. We are so focused on me-me-me kind of attitude and we couldn’t care less about others or our employers or the company’s growth. It’s more on what’s in it for me. Which honestly, could be good and bad.
People could see us as an ambitious generation? Or are we impatient? If we are forced to be like this because of the higher living costs etc, then how do we solve this case and produce a happier Gen Y? Either way, every generation always has some room for improvement, so let’s just see if there’s any truth to these above and make positive changes.
What do you think?
Btw, read this article. It’s a good read.
this is a good read
Hi vivy! I’m Iqaa Lee. Can I know where did you get this blog template? mind share with me the link or website? btw im a blogger too! still new and you’re one of my favorite blogger <2
Agree with ue vivy. Our gen got too pamperrr. Till they cant do beyond but still claim that they are the best. Aiyakkk
Hi, Ive been your silent reader for like ages since u were back in UK. This post hit me hard..it was such a truth. I used to work in industries for couple of years and it was tough. But for real, i love my bosses. Would do anything to have that job back *my company was closed down* Keep posting more vivy. Nowadays we need truth instead of just being an inspiration.
Honestly speaking, I have never found someone that’s within my own generation that has the same exact thought till now. Honestly Vivy, a lot of my peers bitch about their bosses, their jobs, their work, how they don’t receive the compliments they “deserved” for the work that they basically are hired for, and how they are always “reprimanded” for not being able to do the work that again they are hired to do. I on the other hand, started working with my mother during school holidays since I was in Form 4 as a despatch, and she paid me 200 per month like seriously, and she taught me that I am not entitled to anything. You only get to keep what you’ve earned. My mother, who’s also my boss, did not gave me any special treatment at all. In fact, there was several occasion where I was riding my scooter with literal tears because my boss just gave me a scolding. Honestly, that was the best working experience one could have ever asked for.
Assalamualaikum.. Dear vivy, i love your post.
Kind of something yang interesting to think about . Thank you ????
hi vivy,
good write up!
actually the point about easily become bored is true.
you know why the Y generations impatient?
one of the contribution is because the fast money scheme or i can say MLM.
even though at first are not interested, but when people keep talking about the fastest way to make money bla bla bla, thne inside ourself would throw a question like this,
“why i need to work from 8-6pm, facing heavy traffic everyday, but the salary only 1.5k? if i could earn more, why not trying?”
boom! there u go. the resignation letter. hahaha
plus when they are all talks from “so called usahawan” that were a lots nowadays , saying that be a businessman, dont be an employee…sigh. then, this might influence them even though they didn’t realize that is not easy as eating ABC if want to jump to full time business without any proper plan. not everyone is talented and gifted and could shine in business.
i think because the gen born and lives comfortably. expect everything to be comfortable; including life, work, etc. without a bit of hardship, many won’t feel contented of what they have and what they receive.
i experienced working with some superiors and subordinates at different organizations with different workloads and environments. what i did see was this; people are super efficient at office A, being like a family, even though the tasks were bigger and need to put a lot of hardwork doing it. while at office B, where everything seems a bit relaxing, the staffs still doing the job, but a bit indulgent (manja). i have this case of my friend where her staff said that she didn’t have ‘mood’ to do the job and just that. i think it’s an individual’s attitude, also coming from the working environment. people may appreciate their jobs more if they shed blood, sweat and tears agaknya. haha. have more to say, more story, but guess this is longer than i expect. haha. so let us all appreciate what we have today in a best way we can ^^ cheers!
So very true. I have candidates who came for an interview, requested for a salary that’s like 50% jump from the previous employer and when I asked why must I hire you? Her answer was very bleak, similar as the above “I am a fast learner and I can blend well in a new environment”, like the other 15 cant do that? They show no uniqueness and no thrive for excellent. SO disappointing
Couldn’t agree more on finding passionate employees these days. And really, they should know the truth of having your own business… It is not that easy. Thanks for sharing your first salary with FV. Heheh… I used to work with a company that paid me about 3.5k (first real job, fresh graduate yes I should be thankful) yet I still quit after 6 months to get back to managing my own. I managed our family business while in uni part time, hence the argument I deserved a high salary… 2 years into managing our family business full time, there are definitely some times that I wished I stayed at the company. Because sometimes if I didn’t perform well also can get the same amount.. hahahah. Managing your own, it really needs effort to move forward. Like, seriously.
Feels like showing this to my boss.dia mesti setuju.and i need to admit our generations memang mcm ni.good entry Vivy!
Thanks, dear, for your writing. It means a lot…
I think sometimes, employers should also learn to be realistic with their expectations. It seems to me that the most justified drivers for excellence are still incentives and compensations.
Sure, Gen Y’s attitude needs adjustments but employers also have to take into account the rising cost of living and the struggles this generation face everyday. You might be living with your parents with a pay of RM1.5k and that’s no problem for you but some of my friends have to travel from their kampung all the way from Kedah or Perak to rent a small room in the middle of KL while also having to commute for over 30 minutes everyday using public transportation. On top of that, they have student loans from the 4 years they spent pursuing a degree overseas.
The fact of the matter is, 1.5k in KL is not a livable wage unless you have your parents supporting you. Having those struggles while also being expected to stay back late every night when there’s a new project due while your employers are the one reaping all the profits without recognizing your hard work is really unfair.
At the end of the day, business is business and I don’t think it’s fair for employers to expect employees to devote their lives to their work when the compensations aren’t fair or when they company rakes in profits because of their work but the employees are making barely enough to get by. So what most people do is their bare minimum because employers are also compensating them with the bare minimum. And honestly, can you blame them?
that was her starting salary 8 years ago though, im sure now minimum wage has increased. even if that staff moved elsewhere, with low skill sets you can get maybe 1800 somewhere else? so its the ecosystem in the country that is setting market rate.
And what about those earning 3k, 4k and still complaining? what would it take to make Gen Y happy? thanks for this post, now im also giving it a thought.
I have never loved and related to any entry as much as this. We need such blunt thoughts more these days.
I agree with your post Vivy, and having read Elsa’s points above, I partly agree with her too. Then again, ever side of a the coin has a say.
Great read Vivy. I’ve worked in the HR department and this is what I see for gen Y! Having worked in the oil and gas industry, the baby boomers would often say the gen y are not serious about work esp with being offshore – always wanting a raise, that their allowances aren’t enough. Being on the HR side, these are also the typical complaints I hear too.
So great read and hope more of us gen Y’s can be more self aware.
I share your sentiments! Another phrase that are used too often by Gen Y/Millenials that I truly truly despise: ADULTING. Aghh.. We’re a bunch of Peter Pans. http://time.com/4361866/adulting-definition-meaning/
Have been working for 10 years now and I worked my way up the company. Came in as a fresh grad, put in the crazy hours and effort to be where I’m at now. When i first started I earned somewhere around 2k, no car, rented an apartment, owned no designer bag whatsoever! And I seriously was happy! There were tonnes of stuff to learn when I first started work and am still learning to this day.
I am now in my early 30s, earn more than 10k, own a nice car, a comfortable house and plenty designer bags! I purchased my first luxury bag after 5 years of working! Not 1, not 2 and definitely not using FAMA money. Oh the satisfaction I tell you!
I could actually earn a lot more if I were to jump companies but I have really nice bosses and that made me stay. Money seriously is not everything. When I interview young fresh grads these days, they make it really clear that they are switching jobs because of the pay. I die a little every time I hear that. As it is, the starting pay is already a lot higher than what it used to be – 3.5k now. So I really don’t get it.
So worried for our future generation.
I couldn’t agree more with you Vivy.
Our generation need the real truth, more reality rather than fantasy.
One of the reason could be because our parents’ generation have to ‘work hard’ for their life, until someone make the term ‘work smart’ as trend.
And our generation is the one that apply ‘work smart’ term since our school (study smart don’t hard, remember?)
And that goes on until we become adult and have a job.
We still think that ‘work smart’ is still the trend, where we don’t have to work hard and still get good pay.
But actually, those successful millennials are those the one who work their butt off.
I respect those Gen Y who work hard and they the one who deserve what they work for.
I thought that me being older that I thought youngster nowaday being pampered alot. everything they wanted it in easy way. I thought me being “kolot” coz for me, no pain no gain, guess it is really a problem now. I agree with u vivy, we keep complaining till we dont see any good in our life. I guess social media really play the big role. We shouldnt look up, we have to look down, to people less fortunate so we would appreciate what we have more.
and I do agree with ‘just because you work in a company as an employee, doesn’t mean you can’t be successful being that’. true, some people are good at business, some are good at makan gaji. it is not nice to say people makan gaji dont have desire to be successful. atleast they are doing what they are best at..
The Less You Need, the More You Have
So very true, Vivy! I talk about this with my colleagues all the time. Can’t stand how some of the younger staff expect a promotion after just 1 year, when they have nothing to show in terms of work performance.
This is the era of instant gratification and gamification. They have plenty of strategies and tricks up their sleeves to climb the career ladder, unfortunately none of them involves of hard work and perseverence.
While I think there is a lot of truth to what you say, I think that our generation lives in a very different environment compared to say, our parent’s generation. I agree with Elsa in that 1.5 k is simply not liveable wage especially in the Klang Valley area if you not only cannot be dependent on your parents, but also, your parents might be dependent on you. I come from a privileged family, and I know that if I earned 1.5k a month, I could still live comfortably with the help from my parents, who have always wanted to give me the best from a young age. But I have many friends, fresh grads whose parents simply cannot afford to pay for their expenses. And I don’t mean luxury goods like pretty clothes, handbags, nice cars, entertainment, travel etc. I mean parents who simply cannot pay for their basic expenses like transportation costs (buses, KTMs), phone bills, medical bills, food. On top of that, there is a significant population of Malaysian youth that have to work TO provide for their parents and their younger siblings. RM 1.5 K is simply not enough. In fact, this is a genuine problem that the government is aware of and that has taken a big spotlight in public policy issues. TalentCorp was established to help bring back locals and stop the brain drain from escalating as too many Malaysian fresh grads who are competent, skilled and talented know that their efforts and talent can be rewarded better in other countries and they can start building lives and family faster. I think that it is always important to be wary of which standpoint we’re speaking from; a majority of Malaysian fresh grads are on education loans or are enrolled in public universities because they cannot afford to pay for their university fees. For their whole lives, poor socioeconomic backgrounds have hindered their upward social mobility… I think we should be careful before labeling everybody ‘entitled’. For most people, it’s not a me-me-me mentality. It’s “Do I have enough money to even rent a place?”, “Do I have enough money to work at X place or will transport costs be too high?”, “Do I still have to depend on my parents..I want to be financially independent for THEM, not or me,” and for others, “Will I earn enough to support my younger siblings?”.
I genuinely think that your post above might be relevant to those who come from affluent backgrounds etc. But for most working class people who are hoping to earn more, I doubt they come from a position of self-entitlement but really from a sincere need.
Oh dear… I’m embarrassed to say that I was guilty of such behaviour when I first entered the workforce. There was something about the place which was too toxic for my liking.
But one thing I learnt, there’s really no point complaining if you don’t intend to do something about it. A year later, I chose to leave the job. While the ex-colleagues remained and guess what, they are still complaining.
I joined a company to a crazy ass bunch of colleagues who’s personalities complemented one another. 4 years later, I am the team lead. Hard work does pay off and it’s a bonus to be surrounded by positivity as well. The one thing I would commend on Gen Y, we work hard and play just as hard! 😛
Just like you, I am very careful when selecting a candidate for the team. Optimistic, passionate and hardworking individuals don’t come by often these days.
Some call it ambitious, which is not entirely a bad thing but when paired with impatience, it can go right… or wrong in so many ways. I’ve encountered those who are in rush to climb the ladder with minimal exposure or experience and does a relatively bad job once they’re up there.
shared..!
Totally agreed! Mmg x tahan ngn gen Y ni… hari2 dgr pot pet pot pet.. keje nyer cam ala2 kadar jer pun… tp tang gaji cam lagak hamba abdi yg x di bayar langsung (yg pelik nyer masa accept the job, they didnt tell you how much the salary ke???)… tu lom lg maki hamun kat fb psl company la.. psl coworker (semua nk post kat FB/IG).. cam bagus2 sgt… cam terianiaya sgt.. hmmm kalo ada genY yg betul buat keje and take challenge tu mmg sgt rare lah (bukan xde.. mmg ada..) tu pun kalo dia survived dr di poyo kan dek genY yg td tu…
Hmm..Good luck la genY2 sume ye…
I agree with ELSA!
Vivy, although you have some good points there about the employees, but, you gotta be realistic. Yes, we might expect contributions from the employee, but, having them to stay back till late at night settling a-never-ending task is really unfair. At the end of the day, they earn the same amount of wage from month to month. While the employer gets all the profits.
And yes, your father gave you RM1.5K of salary but you were working with your father at the end of the day. If I got to work at my father’s company with only RM1.5K (2016), I wouldn’t mind, because at the end of it, it’s my father’s company, I don’t have much commitments as well. And as a daughter of a CEO of the company, I bet if not all, there will be like most of the staffs respect or even treated you good. In that manner, you don’t really have to struggle with a lot of things.
And yes, SOME people do side businesses, and even used their working time at office for their side business and all. You’re expecting your employee to WORK LATE AT NIGHT, receive the same wage for every months of the year. It’s like saying “you gotta spend your life working and devote to this WORK/COMPANY only”. I believe (correct me if i’m wrong), even before you started a business, you must’ve used at least a little bit of your working time at office to set up the business, right.
So, in this post, I see that you are a bit biased. I see some good points in it, but I feel that it’s a little bit biased.
Sorry and Thanks.
For me, nowadays people use the concept of reflection. It’s not about salary or pressure, it’s about survive. Nowadays people survive by using money. We can’t deny the important of this. On the other side, i am as a human being that survive my day, my behavior, self-defense, attitude is depends on the surrounding. This is just an opinion from an ordinary employee who always seek for opportunity to be in good career development. I’m as an employee, not just choosy to get any job, but i need to be a person who survive with a career going. It’s not about salary, it’s about respect, humanity, that keep your motivation. I’m just an employee from gen Y, and feel unfair about this article. I believe every person have different value, and the value depends on the person we met.
salary vs your value to the company.
hop if you can!
Vivy,
terima kasih banyak-banyak.
Akhirnya ada orang kembali ingatkan tak semestinya jadi usahawan boleh dikategorikan sebagai berjaya.
Saya tak minat bisnes. Bila tengok hampir semua orang menyebut tentang bisnes dan kekayaan, saya jadi keliru.
Saya masih memburu pekerjaan dan artikel ini satu pencerahan yang sangat baik.
Terima kasih.
Semoga FV terus sukses.
Nicely written. I’m sharing this.
I agree with you, Elsa.
@Luna and @Elsa
Getting a lot of good feedback here and also reminders to employers on what employees may want. Thank you!
I don’t speak for all employers but definitely I will recognise employees that go the extra mile. It’s obviously going to get very busy during peak periods and I admit I expect the team to have that kind of responsibility to want to finish the project/task because they want to, and not only IF they get paid the extra hours to. That’s what I mean by us not wanting to do it out of sheer feeling of responsibility. I also want to add that a lot of the employer’s efforts for the employees don’t get noticed much e.g. flexi time, replacement leaves, bonuses of whatever the company can afford, benefits and insurance, any extra perks. It’s not easy to be an employer and making everyone happy. This sentiment I share with a lot of other employers, although we always strive to.
Regarding salary of RM1,500. Oh yes I completely agree that definitely I wouldn’t be able to survive on that now especially with my 2 kids. I was talking about 7 years ago when I was still single and living with my parents. Which I also point out that a lot of Gen Y (not all) also do. Of course if you have a degree and experience, you won’t get RM1,500 in the work market now, so please don’t harp on the values in my blog post. But I guess the point of this piece is that we are losing that culture that we actually care/love/will go the extra mile for our job, and we think we’re worth way more than whatever we get. You can ask anyone this, even me. Everyone thinks they should get more, we’re only human so salary is a common dissatisfaction among us. And no matter how much we get, we will still find things to complain about. I always tell my team if you are not happy, you HAVE to talk to us about it, from there we can talk and hear both sides and see what needs to be fixed. And I’m happy that this is being practised at FV with our HR department. What I don’t want is for Gen Y to complain and not do anything about it. Employers also need to be open to hear employee’s voices. Both sides need to cooperate, of course.
If you think about it, the previous generations also earned the equivalent wages (if not less), but we always hear from our elders that they worked really hard, they were scared of their seniors and they go the extra mile for the company. And this is even with them being scolded and screamed at when they do something wrong. And they can’t seem to understand why Gen Y doesn’t have that, when they were once us before.
Regarding the side business, I still disagree that you can do that while working full-time for a company that is paying you to spend x amount of hours in their company. If 9 to 6 is your working hours, of course you can’t argue that you can do other work. If you are working beyond those hours, then it’s between you and your employer to agree on this mutually (you should also declare your side business so that it doesn’t look like you’re hiding and that both parties understand and set expectations). As for my own experience, yes, I did do work during working hours but ONLY because the company I worked for invested in FashionValet. FV is a subsidiary of my parent company and whatever I did to grow FV became my job to my employer, regardless whether this was my dad or not. I invited them to be a partner, instead of doing things secretly. It’s a different situation if what you’re doing within working hours is for your own personal gain but to your company’s loss because you are not fully focused on the job. We often tell our team at FV too, that if they have any business ideas and need investment, we are open to explore our options because we also want to give the same stepping stone that we were given.
Again, I’ve stressed this in my piece many times. I’m not saying ALL OF US are like this, but I’m talking on people’s opinions and also personal experience as an employer myself. This is a sensitive topic and I know a lot of us won’t like reading this, but if you do see some truth to what I pointed out, then I’m just asking how do we change Gen Y misconceptions, if any.
I think not every gen y is like that, ive come across many many gen y’s who are hardworking n workaholic and was taken advantage by their employer. There is always 2 sides of the story
What sophie said.
hmmm..feel like shopping at fv just because of this mature post – i like you!wishing you much success and happiness always Puan Vivy!
Hi Mdm. Vivy, hire me please. I’m not a fast learner because i enjoy the learning process and not willing to learn but i need to learn because if you got a job, thats your responsibility. Bout the salary, i just want to earn for an honest living. Make it worth it.
Oh God terasa hahaha but all the points are really spot on.
Even by having EVERYTHING, it will still be not enough, and we tend to look at the things we can’t have rather than be thankful of the things (or people) that we are already have.
Thanks for a very good article, such an eye-opener!
Kak Vivy your article is very good and knowledgeable. I want to share my working experience. I’ve work for kindergarten A after my SPM and I didnt get paid for 2 months because I was just a SPM kid. After I had my diploma, I worked at kindergarten S and my boss offer me an amount of salary that my Mum gets when she work at kindergarten S 10 years ago. My Mum said my salary is too little. I am agree with her but I still work and give my best to teach the kids. I was supposed to be paid about RM20 per day. Guess what? I was paid less than what my boss agreed to give me. She cut my salary because of cuti sekolah. I dont get it. Its not that I dont want to go to work, sekolah yang cuti whyy I jadi mangsa.
Its true that Gen Y manja and all. But many of us still give our best in everything that we do. Its just that sometimes the employer is just too cruel. They bullied us. My ex employers bullied me tho. But still, I ikhlas ajar my ex students. Now I just do small business to help my family and also do home tuition.
Sorry I completely disagree with this post. If u ever analyze the inflation rate & think about ‘real income’ instead of ‘nominal income’, you’ll see the purchasing power of fresh grads are getting lower and lower, hence making them prone to demand higher salary.
Say Lucy is a gen X engineer, started working at PJ in 2004 with RM2k salary, she typically has RM300 balance left every month after her monthly expenditure. After working for 2 years, she bought a house at Puchong for RM250k.
Alice is Lucy’s subordinate, a gen Y engineer who started working in 2014 with RM3k salary. If her lifestyle is exactly like Lucy’s in 2004, she’ll have RM0 balance every month, so she downgraded her lifestyle, living in small flat far from work. After 2 years, she wanted to buy a house like Lucy did, yes she afforded one but only a RM400k 800 sqft apt at Nilai, not nearly as good as Lucy’s 1st house.
Lucy join the bandwagon of people bashing gen Y when she sees Alice ferling unsatisfied with her RM3k salary because she used get only RM2k 12 years ago. To her, Alice is impatient & incompetent worker with unrealistic expectation. So she made blog post about how spoiled gen Y is.
What Lucy fail to realize is how the youngsters are facing greater challenge to survive due to high cost of living, but that not Lucy’s problem right?
Totally understand your point of the higher costs of living. And honestly, this is a huge problem nowadays in Malaysia and even the government talks about helping us out with easier first-house loans, minimum starting salary etc etc. Whether or not their campaigns are successful, I leave it to you to decide.
Please don’t get me wrong for asking you back, but I am very interested in this topic and I want to learn your thoughts too. Basically, you know that higher costs of livings doesn’t just affect us individuals but also companies too. Cost of EVERYTHING goes up for everyone, private companies are making less, there are less bonuses to give out, people get laid off even. It’s just a depressing ecosystem for everyone. So do you think the responsibility is now on the employers to raise everyone’s salary so everyone can buy a car and a house, even if the company is a private one that’s say, not profitable yet and not living on government projects or grants? If you were an employer, would this be your move? And if yes, what would be a good-enough salary for skilled and non-skilled execs? Is there also something negative about living in Nilai and not a nice house in say Taman Tun, for a Gen Y? Do you think with increasing salary, the problem of Gen Y’s low productivity and attitude will disappear? Because we all know that just because you give a higher salary, doesn’t mean productivity level will increase proportionately.
Sorry for all the questions, but I am sincerely asking to learn your opinion so employers reading this can also have some food for thought.
Assalamualaikum Vivy, thank you so so much for writing this post! Its a hard slap in the face for me haha i’m guilty of complaining and not putting extra hard work. And i agree about how the hot whether somehow affects our mood. I thought of this a for so long. I used to live in the Uk a few years ago, and seriously I was much calmer and happy though I was financially much less than I am now !
Oh and other thing is even from the Islamic point of view, Islam encourages us to work hard, because when we work hard with honesty and sincerity, there will be barakah (blessings) in our life ! I remember grandma always said that when we put extra effort Allah always knows and will repay us with his blessings 😀 I see that’s what happened to you too !
Salam vivy. Don’t know if you remember me but I wrote for your blog once about the handbags. Anyway…
I don’t believe that only Gen Y complains about their situation. I grew up in the 80s and now I am on the wrong side of 30 and I too complain about my job. Heck, my peers also complain about their salary, bosses, etc.
I think it is normal for us (regardless of generation) to complain,but we must know why we complain.
For example, people usually complain about what’s on the surface or what’s immediate to them like salary. They feel that by getting more salary, it’ll bring them happiness. Yeah, sure. It can bring certain degree of happiness, but I can assure you that it is not going to last long. Soon, you’ll want more.
Similarly, they complain about work or their bosses. Sometimes they like their work, but they hate their bosses and that can potentially be demoralizing. I know… I’ve been through it before. Sometimes it’s the other way round. Their bosses are the best, but the work just sucks the life out of them. Yet,they can’t seem to shake themselves off the sticky situation.
Maybe the tolerance level to accept what’s in the present between the generations is different. This has probably a lot to do with upbringing as you pointed out. Our parents had it hard especially those who came from rural areas. I had it easier and the generation after even more so. Don’t get me started about kids of today. Everything is literally at their fingertips.
But this is beside the point. No matter how much one complains, things will NEVER change unless they understand what actually makes them complain to begin with and they themselves take the bold steps to change.
The truth of the matter is we are all searching for a purpose. What we complain about is only on the surface of a far more important question – what are we here for? What are we meant to do?
This is the question everyone needs to ask themselves. Getting that 5 months bonus or 10% increment at the end of the year is not and SHOULD not be the purpose you work hard or reason for your motivation.
There is something bigger destined for each and everyone of us. It’s about fulfilling our destiny and living up to our true potential. Our energy should not be directed at something that lies outside of our sphere of control. It should be aimed at improving what’s within our control and abilities, and making a positive change not just to ourselves, but to others around us.
At the end of the day, it is not what we receive that is going to pacify our needs. It is what and how we give that will ultimately bring us that happiness and satisfaction we crave for.
These days I have stopped complaining about my salary. I stopped complaining about that guy who does nothing, yet still earns more than me. I used to know how much my gross salary was,but now I couldn’t be bothered. Not that I earn a lot,it’s never enough, but now I just realized my true calling. And that just happened because I kept asking why,why,why.
Don’t get me wrong,I still complain about my job only because I don’t see it enriching my life anymore. So, I decided to start my own part time business. Lo and behold,I found out that I am actually good at selling (I am an engineer by training). Not only that, I now have a direction in my life that I hadn’t before after 16 years in the workforce!
Yes it took me that long! But I have never been happier Alhamdulillah.
So my advice is, and this is not just for gen y, this is for all of us, start asking yourself the real reason behind your own dissatisfaction and embark on your very own journey towards self discovery and a life worth living.
Your points are undeniably correct, we Gen Y are sometimes ego, impatient, big complainer and all. But then i have to agree with Elsa. Not all fresh grads receive the liveable wage these days. Some are barely making enough money out of 1.3k in KL. I know salary is a common dissatisfaction among all of us, but truthfully, it is the only reason why we gotta work – to support ourselves. Like you pointed out, not all employers are bad and mean. Maybe some of us aren’t lucky enough to meet the good ones just yet.
Pardon me for complaining…probably because of the gene, I feel the need to voice out my 2 cents.
Hi Vivy. Interesting post. To be honest most of us realize this but it takes gut to admit it.
Name’s Abid and I help people write grants and proposals for their business. My clients range from small businesses expanding their businesses to people quitting their job to become entrepreneur.
I believe I had heard from both sites, the employers as well as the employees. Employer complaint about staff wanted pay rise but are not willing to go extra mile for the job and the employee complaint about the boss demanding more commitment but refuse to commit in salary hike.
I’m intrigued by the discussion happened here. Considering these two perspective, I would like to know what do you think. Should the employee show more commitment first (eg. willingness to work long hour) or the employer should pay more first (or at least display the intention to do so)? Setting aside ‘manja’ness for the employee because most of my clients were people who worked 2-5 years and quit their job because they don’t feel like they are advancing in their career and question on profitability for the employer since they are expanding their business anyways.
My sincere apology if this is out of topic. Peace.
we live only for 50-60 years if you are lucky, why not take a risk. dont sell your time for money doing things that you dont even like.
I pretty much agree with all your points.
However, please allow me to give my opinion. It is in my opinion that Gen Y has a close knit relationship with their parents and families. The older generation might be able to go months without seeing their parents because they are working so hard at their jobs. Both parents and kids are okay with that.
As for us the Gen Y, especially those living away from parents; belum keluar rumah lagi already tanya “Bila lagi nak balik?” I have friends living with their parents but barely see each other much. You see keluar pagi, balik late at night. Even on weekends. Bawak balik kerja somemore. And how the parents complain them missing family gatherings, the kenduri, dinner and that sorts. We also have duty towards our parents and how we miserably fail at that. We tried, God we really tried. We work hard. We complain. But we still get our work done. We work extra (unpaid) time. We do beyond our job scope. Yes as your statement said; “We become manja because of our parents.” We are expected to be available. Our time are demanded. The one who raised us is same generation who complains; “We are the most difficult generation to crack.”
“Give you benefits and perks also, not happy. Give you increment also not enough even though your work is mediocre.”
The benefits, perks and increments do not make us happy because our quality of life is declining. With all the added perks and benefits, the workloads would also increase. We are expected to do more because we are given the perks and benefits. There’s no balance anymore. The stress level is high. I quote; The American Psychological Association, Generation Y and Millennials reported experiencing an average stress level higher than any other generation. We are the generation being diagnosed with anxiety, depression and high blood pressure at the age of 25. It’s also a crime to take MC nowadays. We still get called to work on medical leave.
We are sorry that we complained too much.
Sincerely,
Struggling Gen Y
True indeed. Finding those truly passionate about work n their workplaces is no easy job nowadays especially in this era of generation. Still they are still exist but perhaps with little extra coaching and unique approach. That would be our challenge Vivy.
True indeed. Finding those truly passionate about work n their workplaces is no easy job nowadays especially in this era of generation. Still they are still exist but perhaps with little extra coaching and unique approach. That would be our challenge Vivy. Love d show.
Hello,
Interesting post. In my opinion, I think there are two different issues.
1) The minimum wage for Gen Y in Malaysia is really too little to live independently:
I’m based in Australia which is protected by Labour laws and so there is a minimum wage. I think it is the government’s job to specify the actual minimum salary employers have to give for a working individual based on the current country’s living costs. And that bare minimum amount should enable the individual to live independently without parents’ help.
2) Gen Y’s attitude
Whether or not increasing the salary increases/decreases productivity, I have no idea. It really is just dependent on the individual’s attitude. A lot of people think that working in Australia is very laid back. But I think it’s more so that the people here are able to manage their time better. People don’t tend to spend hours and hours working but when they do work, they do it without any distractions. I’m talking about chit-chats, social media and tea breaks. If they do have these, they put in time in lieu to make up for the lost work. Also, in my field (research), a lot of people are happy to put in extra hours during peak times but my supervisors are always very nice and appreciative when we do that.
I guess maybe productivity is both linked to the salary’s amount and the work culture. If the salary is sufficient enough to live independently (the key word really is independently), and the work culture is good what’s there to make you leave? But of course, if you’ve got a greedy type of Gen Y, this equation wouldn’t work. 🙂
Cheers.
I agree very much about the weather part. Its actually very true in many circumstances. Not just in this case you know,it actually does shape the general “malaysian attitude” of so called ‘malas’, unprepared and moody. Hahha really, ive thought about it for a while too. Nevertheless, instead of making it an excuse, we should adapt to it or do something about it. Like plant more shady trees or whatnot like in bandung indonesia. Same weather, but not really as hot and we can still enjoy being out in the sun
Dear vivy,
This post is very true, but I have things on my mind too. I’ve been working for a year and I am ready to give it my all. I like my work and I rarely complain about my work. However, I realized that no matter what you deliver, it depends on your bosses as well. Some gen y do want to give it their best but some bosses don’t give them guidance or direction. For my case, I wasn’t told what I did wrong or which areas I should improve on even if I constantly ask. When I asked,they said that I’m doing well. Suddenly,I was told by HR that I’m a bad staff. That left me blur, hanging & demotivated. Like what did i wrong? Forgive me if I sound ‘manja’ but we do get lost sometimes. Good bosses lead, not just expect people to be good by themselves.
I know you said gen y are strawberries but some really aren’t. We wanna move forward but we need guidance as well. Also, I notice some bosses are not willing to teach, hence they hire those with ‘experience’. That’s pretty sad and unfair as they might lose talents by shutting this door to gen y’s. Sure, some are pricks but some are talents out there. And it’s also not all about the money or me-me-me. There are some of us that have parents-parents-family mindset. We wanna earn a lot to support our parents & family too.
Vivy u have good points. Somehow I think you have similarities with Donald Trump in this post.
So proud of u.
Worked with dad., i wish all of have same opportunity. Lol
Who will correct yell at you if you’re boss’s daughter. Hahah
For item 2 & 3, i think you can help to change the mindset of Gen Y with your instagram postings. Just my 2 cents. We gotta walk the talk right? Cheers.
I agree with some parts but not all. I am sorry that the previous generations feel that way about us but have they ever stopped to think about the times this generation have to live in? The high cost of living, the competitiveness of today’s job markets, the high cost of education, etc? Sometimes we b***c about our jobs, about our companies, about our bosses, because that is how we are being treated, like indentured slaves. Underappreciated, credits taken by the management for our work, no increments, and no bonuses.I love my field of work, but I don’t like how we are being taken advantage of and then be called things that aren’t nice. To say that Gen Y are a bunch of lazy bums is a bit condescending from the older generations. We do slave our time working just to make ends meet. Sometimes at the expense of our time with family and friends. So for the older folks, please don’t generalize our generation. We might also generalize your generation as the one who have screwed up so much for the generations to come.
Hye Viviy, I have been one of your silence readers for years now and today I feel like posting up a comment because I am a Gen Y and I am a fresh graduate and I have skipped 3 jobs already in less than 6 months.
I finished my studies early this year and before I even finished it yet I was already going for interviews here and there cause I needed to score a job as soon as possible. Why? Responsibilities. I’m the eldest daughter and the eldest granddaughter as well, even though my father is a professor but due to his responsibilities and the trouble his family had messed up, my father is bearing the cost for this since he is the only one with a stable income. My mother on the other hand, helps by selling ‘kuih’ for extra income which now has become more dependable due the rise of living cost.
Seeing this condition I have been trying my best to be dependent on myself even during my study years, so as soon as I finished my studies I scored a job and I did not ask a cent from my parents anymore. My salary started with 2.3k which was very lucky actually cause I applied for that job even though I knew they were looking for a person that was experienced 3 years and above.
So I started my first job, the first 2 weeks were okay, I knew my responsibilities and I tried my best to cope with it. But as soon as I got better, my manager kept giving me loads of work and I had to stay back a lot. I always came in first and I’m also the one that comes home late and it was tiring. I didn’t get enough rest, on weekdays I was always at work and on weekends I travel back to my mum’s to go grocery shopping and helping out at home. I also needed to do odd jobs at home cause my salary wasn’t enough.
I am paying rent, bills, food, petrol, toll and my car. A car? My car is the 2nd car at home and the only reason that I got a car was because in my family only me and my dad could drive. My dad is using a really old car which usually breaks down so he only uses it for work, so my car is the family car. So if anything happens, I will be the person that rushes here and there to settle out my family issues. And trust me, I own a car with a lot of responsibilities.
So things didn’t work out for my first job, my manager didn’t want to let me go though but I was determined to go and I scored another job at a Beauty Company. It wasn’t really a big company but it wasn’t small either. The first 2 weeks were okay, I moved back to my mum’s house since it was nearer there but still the cost of travelling were high and I didn’t live for free at my mum’s. I knew my family condition and I insisted to help out.
I sent out my resignation letter after a month working there and had to work for another month to leave. The reasons were a lot but the main reason was the unhealthy environment, and everyone seemed to be selfish, there was no teamwork at all and I couldn’t stand that. I became unpassionate and I didn’t like it even though I never got scolded.
So I scored a job in the middle of KL on my 4th month. I avoided looking for jobs in KL cause it was so crowded but I just took the job there since the office was connected to the LRT station. I didn’t really put in a lot of thought to this cause I couldn’t afford being jobless even one day.
Alhamdulillah, it has already been my 2nd month going to the 3rd working in this company and I don’t think I will be leaving. My salary is still the same 2.3k but the environment is nice, my manager is understanding and I never been forced to work until late night. I’m doing the same work every day but it’s okay because work has become more fun cause I finally put my heart to it and my colleagues even the higher ups are very supportive.
But still RM2.3k is rather low in KL. I managed to rent a really tiny room in a really bad apartment even sharing basis near the LRT station which cost almost RM300 a month. There was even a night that I slept in my car near the office because I was too tried to drive back to my mum’s, but now since I started renting I left my car at my mum’s and my fiance helps to fetch me on Fridays and send me to my mum’s for the weekend and send me to work on Mondays. The rest of the week I just take the LRT to work.
I know at early stages it is hard to survive, so I try my best not to complain, but still I’m a human being and seeing what other people is having I somehow want it too. I can’t lie saying that I never spend money for my self-satisfaction, I do, but I rarely do. I see people wearing nice clothes, nice shoes, and nice etc on social media but I can’t afford to buy all that cause I have commitments and it actually brings me down sometimes cause honestly, clothes now ain’t that cheap anymore, don’t you think? Don’t get me wrong, I feel really shitty with my appearance cause till now I’m still wearing worn out clothes from my diploma years and seeing people around you wearing really nice clothes to the office makes me feel so insecure about myself.
But still, after reading your post I thought back and I realised that I have been feeling sorry for myself for nothing. I should really start enhancing my skills and prove that I actually qualify for the job rather than showing my skills in talking only. Even though I want to own so much now but if I don’t start from feeling hardship, I will never try to improve myself. I’m trying to be as optimistic as I can right now and hope my future will be brighter from what I am experiencing now. Wish me luck!
A good read & commentary. In whatever theories, views, opinions & experiences dealing with Gen Y, in working environment leaders especially from old generation (Gen Baby Boomers & Gen X) must adjust and align our approaches and behaviors “to educate, guide & coach them with our true intention & passion.” Not a day process but our efforts is more important to open their eyes & hearts to see their career development in true reality. We have no choice..they are our future leaders.????
Hi vivy,
I am agree with most of your points. The thing is you cant compare 1.5k that u get 7 years ago with 1.5k that u pay your workers or part timers nowadays. 7 years ago, my mum was paid rm650 and she was able to support me and my 2 other siblings. U get 1.5k back then but u need to support no one. Plus u worked with your father and sometimes working with family is not real working. Is it true that sometimes u didnt work in office hour with your dad?
You are so lucky and you are one of my idol. Even you were born rich and smart, you still share your kelebihan with others. I love how u treat your staffs with food and mani-padi stuffs. You are a great boss. As a delusional Gen-Y girl, I think it would be best gila if all bosses in Malaysia can be like you.
I’ve worked with Indian and Chinese bosses before. my salary is less than my Indian and Chinese friends. #racistbosses.
Overall I love u Vivy.
A lot of the things you say are true, but there are things that I think do not make sense
U know that for a lot of ppl out there, if their salary is rm1500, then that’s the money they use for EvERYthing. U can say u get rm1500 but everyone knows ur “duit belanja” most likely came from somewhere else too (otherwise how could u have afforded designer stuff even when you were a student). So even though in one hand, i tend to agree gen y is a bit more manja and demanding, you have to understand that with that salary, or even slightly more, it’d be just nice or “cukup2”
N since u know that a lot of youngsters adore you and would just buy anything you sell, maybe you can try and reduce the price of ur products. Soo crazy that ppl would buy scarves priced at rm100-300 like they are buying kuih muih at pasar malam. Sold out in no time. And most of these buyers are actually students and young ppl!! Who are more conscious abt what brands they wear etc
Lily
i agree with you that gen y shouldnt be too manja etc etc, but coming from you?..hmmm yeah u started with 1500 or whatever, but had daddy’s credit card and going around in gucci and getting blow outs in salon. like please be real, anyone who really earned that little wouldnt even be able to enjoy that sort of lifestyle u had.in all honesty this just sounds fake coming from you.
Excellent. Good sharing. GenX
Dear Vivy,
Thank you so, so much for point No. 4. To be honest, I’m actually quite happy with my job (Alhamdulillah) where I get to translate documents and make use of my language skills to assist other people where translation is concerned. But like you said, the emphasis on entrepreneurship is everywhere these days and I would be lying if I say that I’m not the least bit affected whenever I see my friends posting statuses on Facebook that are along the lines of “If you’re not into business, you’re not successful” or subtle threats like, “Don’t be sorry if your company decides to ‘ditch’ you one day and you don’t have business of your own to support you.” It’s very disheartening to read stuff like that on my newsfeed sometimes and I always end up thinking, “Am I pathetic for not jumping into the entrepreneurship bandwagon like everyone else does? What’s wrong with having an office job if I happen to like what I’m doing; even if the pay isn’t as glamourous as an entrepreneur?”
I especially love this bit you wrote:
“Just like any other subject in school, not everyone likes or is cut out to be or is even interested to become an entrepreneur. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Not everyone wants to devote their lives to building something from zero in hope to make it big, because really, there’s a huge risk attached to entrepreneurship.”
So, thank you so much for this. I feel cheered up when I read this particular part.
Wishing you all the best in all of your endeavours.
Cheers!
Hi vivy,
I too agree with some of your points, but not all. If only u knew the hardship i had to go through to be where i am today. The insults, discrimination and whatnot. Even until today! But luckily i aint one of those strawberries. I had my breakdowns, no doubt. But i was determined to stay and make things work for me. Its really tough tho, i have to admit. And where i currently work, it is actually gen X whom complain and b**** about the boss a lot. Ya huh. be grateful that u were born in a rich family. Most of us are not that fortunate. Well of course there are a lot of other unrealistic manja strawberries out there lah kan. Xoxo
I have read that article time and time again and it is soooooo true. I’m partly Lucy (as per the article) sometimes…. Can’t deny it. Still at my first job for the past three years although I do feel burnt out nowadays (recently) so maybe it’s time to move on ????
Hello!
I came across your post because an older friend posted it on Facebook. While I do agree with some of your points in your post, I do find that it’s rather unfair to claim that we are of that sort. We do complain yes, but just because we complain does not mean we’ve given our best.
I started off with a salary of 1.7k when I graduated, 2 years down in that company I had a salary increment to 2k. I was happy and passionate with what I was doing. I have a father who’s ill at home, a suicidal sibling and a mother whom was a housewife. I had the responsibilities of putting food on the table as well as paying bills with my salary which was very difficult. I ended up working part time on weekends too so that I could have side income for my own expenditure. But things never did work out because the company I worked in started delaying my salary for 2 to 3 months. I could barely afford to pay bills with my savings, I skipped meals. That started to demotivate me at work. I got called out for it. I still continued working after that, but the main reason I resigned from them? I was still having my salary delayed.
I then worked in another company with a downgrade to my salary amount because “young people always demand so much” when all I did was asked for the same amount I had earned in my previous company. With 1.5k I was working till late nights, skipping meals, working my weekends away and quitting my part time job because the job demanded so much. I wasn’t even compensated for petrol expenses with the rounds of delivery I had to do for them. Nonetheless, I loved my job. I was getting screamed at by my boss everyday for every single thing she was unhappy off. She constantly overloaded me with work and expected me to finish it all in a short time, I had even explained to her that it was unethical only to be scolded back that I cannot even follow orders. I held on to almost a year because I love my job, I loved the team I was working with and at the end of the day, the product we produced made me satisfied. But guess what? Working till 4am and working weekends only led to me getting let off because she could afford me. She wanted to pay me 500 a month as part timer doing the same things I did full time.
So here I am again on a jobless spree. It’s not about why we need a higher income, it’s the cost of living, the responsibilities we have. It’s not about why we’re always unhappy and complaining about our jobs, it’s about how we are treated when we worked really hard for it. Why do we stay on just to complain about it later in the day when we could just hop elsewhere to build our delusions? It’s about being responsible, working hard and being patient even when you’re being pushed down to the level of slavery.
Oh dear, I do hope your dad and sibling are ok and that you are keeping strong holding up the family. I definitely have a lot of respect for you. But I don’t think you should stay at a job if you think you are treated to the level of slavery. If you are CONSTANTLY working till 4 am and working weekends without any form of benefits – that’s a pretty unfair employer you had.
Anyway, I do want to ask just to pick your brains on this. (Or anyone who’s reading).
1) I completely understand that people have personal responsibilites or family issues, everyone to some extent has baggage. Do you then think it’s the employer’s responsibility to give you less work/treat you differently/raise your salary because of your external challenges? How do you justify if there are 2 employees that are exactly the same, but because Employee A has bigger problems, she gets demotivated and less passionate, then want higher pay – how would this fare with Employee B?
2) If yes, then what if everyone in the company starts bringing up their commitments and responsibilities, because really, everyone has problems.
3) To what extent do employees expect an employer to consider their external factors?
4) Companies have a budget for total salaries monthly. If salaries are increased, productivity also has to increase so that the company can earn higher revenue to pay for that increase in salaries. If productivity level remains the same after increments, then something is wrong there. So higher salary comes with even more work and hours, are we prepared for that?
I swear these aren’t provoking questions (could be misconstrued when things are in writing instead of face to face). I sincerely want to know what people think about this.
Yes thats why some people take advantage on others by creating scams, promising them millions within a year with a very small capital.
And they live rich and famous with these people’s money.
What you are saying is true. But say 7 years ago till today there is no inflation at all and 1.5k worths about the same (which is not), most people dont live with their parents because their parents dont live in big cities where they are working. And that calls for rental, money to spend on food, to pay the bills, give some to our parents, pay the car that we dont get for free or we dont get to share with our dad just because we work together. So 1.5k of pocket money is a lot!! People can hardly save rm1k a month from their salary okaaayy. Wait..the rm500 u earned at the beginning of fv is still a lot since you still live with them. ????
yes agree with the most of the point. not saying like im ‘membodek’
how i wish that i could be apart of FV team.
Good one, vivy.
I hope u dont mind i shared ur post.
I’m enjoying the discussion that’s going on here, interesting viewpoints from everyone.
Most of you may have read or at least heard of the book “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. As the CFO of Facebook, we would all expect some pretty good advise from her in the book. However, even she was criticized for writing a book that speaks to only a particular audience (comfortable family background, little or no financial commitments, etc).
What I’m trying to say is that this article may be more applicable to some than others but definitely not all. Again, loving the discussion that’s going around here but we need to understand this article is about her experience and viewpoint as an employee & employer.
I graduated two years ago with first class honors, took the first job that was offered to me with a starting salary at rm2.5k. At that time most of my friends started with rm2.8k-rm3.2k. I was promoted within a year and my company volunteerily offered to increase my pay to rm4k. Few months later I was offered to shift to Singapore and am now making the same amount of money in SGD.
I personally think it’s a mix of capability, persilience, willingness to take risk, and of course your employer’s faith & trust in you and even the company culture. All that, and a bit of luck maybe.
Thank you Vivy for sharing your thoughts and encouraging constructive discussion here!
Hi Vivy,
I’m one of the generation Y here and I agree with most of your points. All these problems I believe come from the effect of social media. Gen X dulu-dulu takde fb atau instagram to complain about their work lives, employers, colleagues etc. If they have, I bet they will complain as much. Also, they don’t have social media to see and be jealous about their friends travel pics, designer handbags, luxury home and whatnot so they don’t compare their lives with other people, they know there is no shortcuts in order to be successful because again, they don’t have the chance to compare. The key is to work hard. But with social media nowadays,Gen Y will compare almost everything posted in social media. I know people will only share the things they want to share, and other people don’t see the struggle behind it. But we can’t help to compare (from my observation)eg: wow, my friend bought a new car he must have a lot of money. I need to change job pronto. Oh wow, my friend got to travel every month, must be good to quit job and do what you love.
Another thing, we can see insta/fb posts revolve around how to be rich by age of 30, how to travel the world, yada yada. ‘do what you love’ mantra is a norm now, which is a killing message. Gen Y is caught up between do what you love and love what you do. I kinda agree with this article (please read if you have time) there is actually a research on this. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/do-what-you-love-dispelling-the-myth.
Thumbs up Ms vivy…
Im also experience all those things.not easy to get a full commited gen y staff..
Korang dok bising cerita personal issues dekat gen x utk mintak dipaham pun bukannya gen x nak dengar. Dah mmg gen y ni dah dilabel gitu tak kira apa masalah korang pun. Cuma aku nak cakap, kalau gen y n gen x tak habis2 complain sampai bila nak settle? Bagi aku, gen x memainkan peranan penting utk dekati gen y, change the approaches, cara ajar masa bekerja. Gen x ni pun dah berpengalaman n matang kan. Dah terang lagi bersuluh pun gen y tu mcm mana kan? So why not come out with suggestion utk bantu gen y elok2. Gen y ni jugak yg akan menerajui negara satu hari nanti.
Utk bos kat luar tu, jgn la sombong sgt sbb staff tu yg buat kamu kaya. Jgn bg staff over work. Stay up lewat, datang weekend tapi gaji nan hado, OT pun takde, badan penat pastu kerja tak productive. Nak ajar staff tu ajar la elok2 kita tak tahu kot2 staff balas dendam senyap2. Yg ada masalah attitude lantaklah dia nak resign ke apa, mmg normal la staff datang dan pergi. Elok jugak dia resign pun and doakan dia berjaya ditempat lain je. majority yg ada masalah kerja aku rasa semua yg gaji bawah rm3000 which agak susah utk survive dengan current economy sekarang.
And we dont need free food, free company trips, free treats from bosses utk ganti penat lelah kami. We need company that suits with our condition tak kisah dari segi masa, duit, family, orang di tempat kerja ke apa. Semua orang ada needs, life vision n mission yg berbeza. Yg ada masalah attitude tu pn bukan gen y je yg ada, gen x pn banyak. Semua terletak dkt diri sendiri. Yang perangai malas, lembik2 tu kalau dah nasihat tetap cmtu lantak. Pepandai la dia survive. dan kalau memang ramai staff kita berhenti tu ada baiknya kita check balik cara kita manage company.
Kalau gen y ni pn dah dianggap manja, apatah lagi generasi akan datang. Itu pentingnya gen x utk bantu dan ikut perkembangan masa kini bukan duk compare zaman dulu. Dulu takde najib. Dan kami gen y pun akan cuba bantu generasi akan datang dan bukan hanya pos dekat facebook je. Strawberry ke durian ke, we give and take for better future okay? Think big.
I love it when you talk seriously like this. *Thumbs up*
everyone get their own problem. Nowadays life with no stable work or life is not easy/chill like 10 years ago. Gen Y face it. if now u have only rm1500 in your account can u live in your way of life now? (rent house, foods). If you calculate all the cost(cost not for buy handbag,cloth okay) their account will be rm0 again for the cost nowadays.
gen y is hardwork n they try do their best. it’s not a human without a complain like what u do in this post. peace.
Hi Vivy, yes good point there but i think whatever that you wrote there should be reflected back to you. A scarf that cost 150 and more, all the expensive clothing on FV, u marketed it thus u contributed towards all the problems that u mention above. Back to the purpose why u starting FV, dont tell me it is only because u are so passionate bout fashion. U want people to buy and keep on buying.
I started working with a pay of rm1800. obviously I did not take that amount home but I was happy. I was an oversea graduate with experience working abroad for 3 years. when my employer found out my pay in pounds, they said ‘we cant afford to pay you that much’. I said its ok and let me try to work it out. I was a degree holder and I was working as a receptionist. I did learn a lot and I loved it. I get to meet new people and I am the front face of the company. was promoted 2 years in and another promotion 1 year after that. I am still with the same company and I am happy.
problem I see now, they tend to get picky and refuse to leave their comfort zone. was doing a few job fair event and fresh grads are picky.
I agree with your points but I guess the economy and the cost of living are not helping as well.
Well said!
You are contradicting yourself by writing this article sweetie
All I can say after reading this, is, “bullshit”..
Bullshit, because you worked with your daddy, and you lived with your parents. RM1500 was more than enough. Paying your own rental, utilities and transportation are the real struggles. So you don’t deserve to say anything about how RM1500 was “more than enough”.
Bullshit, because this was 8 years ago. Considering the gap between generation X and Y, you are more likely belong to generation X. We, the generation Y affected a lot by inflation and job insecurities.
Bullshit, because not all generation Y behave like that. Some of us have to migrate and leave our own family just to make livings. (Unlike a girl who worked with her daddy, and stay home with her parents. Lucky bastard)
Bullshit, because me, a generation Y, is also working in a construction company. All I can say is that the generation X are also fucked up. They are the one who always say “lazy to do lah” “smoking till 1 hour” “go to bank almost everyday”. They have the seniorities, and they act like they don’t have to do the job anymore. Anything, just pass down to the juniors, the generation Y to clean up their shits. Never mind though, because of cleaning shits, I managed to get almost RM30k a month now.
Hye vivy and readers.
Vy, your post this time deserve a thumbs up. They’re totally right. And readers pls, this is the general side. No need butthurt. I had the same experience, im 26 y o so i consider myself as gen y as well. After finished my dip in Accounting i go straight yo find a job. Not a picky? I started as a cashier with a small pay, rm25 per day. Ot was rm4 per hour. I worked straight from 9 am to 12 am every single day. Its not that i dont wanna score other jobs but i need to stay nearer my area bcs a have a big responsibility towards my family. A rarely on sick leaves or any leaves. Worked there for 5 years . From rm 750 monthly 5 years ago, my last pay wad tm 3500. Alhamdulillah for thay, no complaints. But what made me quit from that company was my bos attitude. He will tengking semua pekerja like bodoh , babi , lembu ant stuff. Its hurt. I just hang in there . And i manage to hold there for 5 years. But last december i couldn’t held myself anymore, he tengking me for thing i didn’t do for numerous time. So i quit.
I believe there are strawberries out there but still ramai juga yang kuat berusaha but demotivated for certain reason. But its okay, you were saying in general , deserve a pat in your back. Thanks vy
I am your silent reader as well and I could say that, I am agree with you. I do experience that kind of situation, complaining here and there. At the same time I do understand how management might think and how things work as an employer and analyse all theses issues in my HR class. You really make into a point and thanks for your buah fikiran. The topics that I rarely read in your blog. We shall not compare our life with others but we should grow from what we have. Keep on writing.
For me actually salary is the second part of life. My biggest point happiness during working hour. Kita harus gembira dengan kerja yang kita. Jika kita tidak belajar mencintai kerja yang kita buat how can we do the job properly. Yahh i know some of you mesti tak agree sebab saya kata salary is second part of life but that is fact. Apa guna gaji beribu ribu sedangkan kita tak gembira dengan apa yang kita buat dan tak ikhlas dengan kerja tu.
Tapi ada setengah daripada kita, mempunyai tanggungjawab harus membantu keluarga, membesarkan anak anak , menolong isteri dan sebagainya. Living cost semakin tinggi, bagi saya rezeki ada di mana mana. Kita harus keluar daripada comfort zone kita. Sebagai Gen Y kita harus mengumpulkan pengalaman dahulu, sebelum bertindak untuk tindak selanjutnya bukan membuta tuli mengikut arah angin. This is my opinion sorry if i say anything wrong.
I believe passion is an overrated word used to describe the attitude a normal employed worker need to have, because you yourself might have passion in this business you started because you love what you do, and its your baby right. But think about your normal workers/employees, why do they work? Mostly because of the paycheck at the end of the payday isnt it.
Something for you to try is maybe help your workers/employees find meaning in what they do, a sense of purpose that they can hold on to especially in the hard times.
But there are people who as hard as they do or dont want to try wont find anything meaningful in whatever they do, or maybe its just not their time yet.
One thing i see that can help probably would be to award a small stake in the business to your employees of course based on performance, maybe a small percentage of share where they will gain not only from their salary but from the business profits as well. In Malaysia employers rarely do this, maybe bosses here dont want to sacrifice their own profit that much hehe.
I used to get paid more than double the pay i get now, but i found meaning & a sense of purpose in the work i do now, even for half the pay i used to get working for an mnc. Life is harder now no doubt, but have faith will survive & may Allah ease insyaAllah.
I love this quote from Almarhum Buya Hamka;
“Kalau kerja sekedar kerja
Kerbau di sawah juga bekerja
Kalau hidup sekedar hidup
Kera di hutan juga hidup..”
Renung2kan & #muhasabahdiri
Ramadhan kareem to you & family, assalamualaikum ^_^
You are rich even if you dont do anything so just shut the fuck up vivy
You are moaning about your staff right little girl? Not all Generation Y are as lucky as you. Most of them don’t have milionnaire fathers like you or your husband. Most of them have to work to support their family. Tell us with your 1500 salary per month how could you afford those luxury items? They don’t have the same opportunity as you who don’t have to work hard to ask for loans to start a business because your milionnaire father can provide you with the much needed seed capital to start your business. And why don’t you go into the real world and practice law? And of course la kerja for company bapak sendiri can get high increments and when you worked you bapak’ company do you have to take the public transport? Ada driver kan. Do you have to work until early morning? So if you want to moan about your staff don’t compare your life with others la. I agree most of the points you raised are bullshit unless it comes from a person from a deprived background, start business from scratch not daddy’s bank or people who have bigger responsibilities (who have elderly parents, many siblings etc). And your company also contribute to the hutang piutang budak2 muda ni so you don’t have to bising about that because you jual barang2 mahal.
Hi vivy, very interesting article.
I am a store manager in a big and expanding F&B company.
I agree with what you said, gen Y doesnt have persistence and patience. It sometimes frustrates me because some doesnt want to move foward. They feel comfortable where they are and yes, whenever they feel they are being scolded , its either i get an MIA employee, or resignation letter. They cant really stand the heat yet they want soo much more.
I also want soo much more and sometimes are not satisfied with my company but that doesnt make me want to leave. Instead to challenge ourselves harder to achieve great results. One of the companies values are challenging the status quo, but then sometimes it can be tiring. Because we have a lot of different directions to achieve on. Once you get great results you would want to have better results.
Then again, its not life without challenge aye.
Vivy Yusof.. I followed you since u were like ‘free-hair’ like xde ‘helmet’ like that..got married to Dean, gave birth to Daniel..turned hijabist..Fashionvalet and latest u had your own reality show (which i recorded yer and watched milion times!)… Untill lah u decided to post ????????those posts.. H O N E Y!!! I agreed very much with what you have to say in regards of the so-called Gen strawberries….everything was perfectly well said B U T .. This post should not come from YOU!!
1st- u came from a well to do family ( like seriously words like ‘inherit, top law school etc) 1500 was NOTHING to you but are EVERYTHING for some GEN STRAWBERIES. Now you tell me.. Can u live with 1500 without a penny cent frm ur parents? Im sure you wouldnt know the feeling kan.
2nd- You are the EMPLOYER side last time i checked. Yeah u worked for ur father and had a manager who gave u 500 raise. But that was ur dad’s companyyyyy!! Helooo!! I dont see why, where, how you wanna complain abt your boss???????
Im not saying what you wrote was wrong.. No… Saya sangat setuju dengan point point yang Puan Vivy kemukakan.. But not coming from you.. Its almost hypocrite you know especially when u mentioned the Social Media stuff..like u really need to walk the talk gurlll.
Vivy.. Can you at least write something more realistic to you rather than just simply writing it without you yourself going through IT??
Im a fan of yours, follower tegar, i met u in person and you are honestly very humble. Please dont change that ????
@just sayin’:
I respect your opinions of course but I’ll have to rebut to your paragraphs.
1) I didn’t say it was “more than enough” as suggested by you. Not sure where you got that.
2) Everyone is affected even companies and your employers and higher costs for operations. It’s depressing all round.
3) Agree. I repeated many times in the post that NOT ALL are like this. Not sure also if I deserved to be called that because I stayed with my parents…?
4) Sorry to hear that about Gen X, I guess we can’t generalise any “Gen” then. And kudos to you for being where you are now, that is quite an impressive salary that came from hard work!
@averagejoe:
I respect your comment but I feel that it is more upset towards me personally than seeing a bigger issue here. I am really just trying to crack the mentality of our Gen and whether or not there is something we can do to improve it. Hope you can help me out here too because I think a lot of employers are interested too. So please share your opinion on my questions below:
But first, for your personal questions towards me, let me answer so that you have a peace of mind.
1) No I am not moaning about my staff – I have a pretty solid team that I’m super proud of (and I’m pretty vocal about that) and when there are down times, I confront them and want to solve them asap. No company is perfect, so of course there are staff who leave us if they are unhappy and we can’t seem to fix it.
2) No, I wouldn’t be able to afford luxury items at my starting salary. I don’t really see the correlation of luxury items vs passion/interest/sincerity at work, which is my point of this post. Having a Dior bag doesn’t suddenly make me want to work till 4am.
3) Both my companies were started from loans. And the future fundings after that were the result of Dean and i pitching to VCs and banks – not through back doors, and my dad wasn’t there holding my hand, in case that’s what you wanted to know. We also joined the reality show MyEG Make The Pitch in hopes to win some investment into FV.
4) Practising law = real world? I think me starting FV is pretty “real world” too…
5) Not true. I admit that could be true for some of my friends who work for their dads (and I always think that’s their rezeki), but my dad was pretty tough and didn’t let me use that reason to my benefit. I did not take public transport to the office.
6) Yes I had to work till late and weekends too. Until now.
7) Again, not moaning about my staff. And not comparing my life with others. I think you did that.
8) Whenever I think I can’t afford something, I don’t immediately think that company should shut down. We all obviously need to manage ourselves and just because I sell local designers’ clothes to the public (not just Gen Y), doesn’t mean I can’t care about current issues too e.g. youngster’s cc debts.
Anyway, I do want to ask just to pick your brains on this. (Or anyone who’s reading).
1) I completely understand that people have personal responsibilites or family issues, everyone to some extent has baggage. Do you then think it’s the employer’s responsibility to give you less work/treat you differently/raise your salary because of your external challenges? How do you justify if there are 2 employees that are exactly the same, but because Employee A has bigger problems, she gets demotivated and less passionate, then want higher pay – how would this fare with Employee B?
2) If yes, then what if everyone in the company starts bringing up their commitments and responsibilities, because really, everyone has problems.
3) To what extent do employees expect an employer to consider their external factors?
4) Companies have a budget for total salaries monthly. If salaries are increased, productivity also has to increase so that the company can earn higher revenue to pay for that increase in salaries. If productivity level remains the same after increments, then something is wrong there. So higher salary comes with even more work and hours, are we prepared for that?
I swear these aren’t provoking questions (could be misconstrued when things are in writing instead of face to face). I sincerely want to know what people think about this.
@Hammam Mustafar:
Omg thank you so much for this comment. Yes I completely agree and actually this is exactly the kind of forward-thinking gestures a company should do for their employees.
Dean and I talk about this all the time, but because FV has multiple shareholders we cannot implement something just like that. There are also a lot of issues that Dean and I never thought of. e.g. what are the requirements, how it affects other shareholders, what happens if the staff suddenly leaves/doesn’t perform well anymore, also shares in a company is a super long-term benefit. You only get rewards via dividends if your company is profitable or if your company gets sold. A lot of people want shares in a company because it sounds sexy but when it really happens, nothing materialises for another 5 or so years so it’s really just an achievement on paper. You own something on paper but your life is really still the same for now. Which doesn’t fare well if it’s true that Gen Y likes things instantly.
So what FV did recently is that we reward everyone in the company if we hit monthly targets. The financial reward might not be as huge as a bonus but because FV is not yet profitable, we can’t spend as we like. But this is just our way to share the pie, so to speak, and give our employees instant rewards monthly. We do see excitement when we implemented this (it’s actually really fun and encourages teamwork) so I strongly recommend this to other employers, if your shareholders allow this of course.
i would like to answer your questions Vivy,
1- as much as you want your staff to be happy, and feel at home, part of the family, it’s crazy to think that employer should offer more money, or less work just because the employee has some issues at home. of course bosses must have some considerations,and give a time frame for the employee to find solutions. cannot babysit them la.
2- so NO.
3- i remember in one of your tv show, you allowed one of your staff to work from home so she can take care of her mom. how’s that turn out? i was like wow so nice of FV bosses, since i am a bit sceptical with working at home arrangement for companies, especially in malaysia.
4- isn’t that how it is since forever? companies gives more salary, means more responsibilities.
so now can you guess how ancient i am from my comments haha!
Assalamualaikum Vy.
Oh i just have to post a comment on this post. I am a 29 yo woman who was in a construction industry for the past 7 years until I decided to become a housewife recently. Not because I dont love my career but just because I love being a stay at home mom, more.
I totally agree with what u posted here despite I can consider my self a gen Y too. But of course we can’t generalize to all but I have met those strawberries.
kerja mana-mana pun ada cabarannya. Really. Maybe I am lucky I started my career with a great company. Great as in I have amazing bosses that is willing to teach me that time, considering I know nothing since I am a fresh graduate. But mind u, we just have to learn it d hard way. I have been humiliated in meeting because I dont know stuff, kena buat kerja dari kerja despatch, runner sampai lah attend a meeting u know nothing about. Sampai kena marah everyday and face a very demanding job. Who ever in construction field would understand d drill. But that is just d best way to learn. The best way to climb that career ladder. Bila kita dah face d challenges doing d ground work, that will make us better leader one day.
Sabar, learn in every single thing u do and keep improving.
And also, really, money is not everything. saya selalu pegang pada prinsip ni, how much d company pay you, that is how much we have to give back! They dont increase ur sallary for nothing…and kita pun bila dah dpt increament, xkan nak perform sama je?
So always know your priority!! Say if u are a guy tengah muda and really need to make money, its ok to demand for more and more $$$ and w that pls realize that it comes w bigger responsiblities and commitment.
But let say in my case, when i gave birth to my daugther i realize that i cant spend that much time in office anymore like how it used to be when i was single, I ask my boss to stop playing $$$ w me. When my workloads increase, loads of people suggest for me to demand higher salary but really its pointless. Coz i know how much i can commit. Buat apa gaji tinggi tapi x boleh contribute? Nak amik gaji pun malu… and just to make things clear no im not frm a rich family. I have loans to pay, adik2 yg perlu ditanggung belajar and other commitment. But that shouldnt make us just having high sallary without considering what we can gv in return. What we can gv as in to meet the management par, not ours. Sebab like it or not we are working for d company.
Then regarding all those peer preassure, lifestyle etc2. Its back to 1 thing, live within ur means and thats it! Nothing else! To be honest i have been visiting FV since its .net until now tapi boleh kira dgn jari 1 tangan je berapa kali beli. I love them all but I cant afford it. I cant afford spending hundreds for a top or pants let alone a scarf so tgk je cuci mata, then bye2. Opt for something i can afford tanpa ada rasa preassure ke rasa rugi ke apa. Orang lain boleh beli alhamdulillah happy for them.. kita beli apa kita mampu. Org nak jual tudung rm3000 sehelai pun let them be. Ada yg mampu beli. kita beli dr apa yg kita mampu… rezeki dan bahagian masing2.. 🙂
so dont feel preassured.
vy, as of rewards for staff tu, what my ex boss did was they reward the staff on project basis apart frm increament, bonus etc3. But its easy cos we are contractor so we work on project basis. He will share d % of margin for each project to d team members. So kalau project byk untung, byk la team member dpt comision. Kalau nak byk comission, team sama2 la control project costing jgn bg rugi…
As for d external factor that u asked, its really case to case basis. What i see is for d employer to be more flexible w their staff eg some time off utk pergi clinic for pregnancy check up for example, or if d staff have personal financial problem, employer could give interest free loans. my ex boss did that. Tak lah pukul rata in terms of salary sebab semua org ada lain2 masalah. Cuma kita sebagai staff, kalau ada masalah yg akan ganggu kerja, speak up. Let d management know and see what where and how they could attend to d issue and benefits both party. On d management side pula, kena la lebih selalu mendekati staff so staff kalau ada problem pun, tak segan utk cerita or worse terus amik short cut and submit resignation letter.
Andddd at d same time staff pun jgn lah ambil kesempatan… lagi2 kita org islam, last2 akan balik kpd soal amanah dlm pekerjaan.
Pendek kata kita kerja je dgn ikhlas, no matter apa pun peranan kita dlm syarikat tu. Semua pun penting. 1 company besar mcm mana pun tapi kalau 1 hari semua despatch pergi cuti confirm kelam kabut. Thats how important we all are.
If we are not happy, speak up dgn org yg sepatutnya, and see how we can solve that. Kalau ada org suka main politik ke, take credit ke, lantak lah diorang..kita x rugi apa2. Bila kita buat kerja tu, kita yg belajar kita yg untung. Boss x nampak kita buat kerja tapi Allah nampak. Gaji kita bukan boss byr, Allah yg byr sebab boss nak makan nasi sebutir pun Allah yg beri 🙂
Yang bagus tentang artikel ini:
– Memulakan perbincangan tentang isu Gen Y VS Gen X ini
– Laid down some of the experience and opinions on the topic
– Penerangan yang panjang lebar. Maka kami faham sudut pandang penulis
Beberapa ‘pandangan’ dan pengalaman yang penting dalam artikel ini:
– Gen Y manja
– Gen Y rasa they deserved all good things
– Gen Y want all the good thing now
– Gen Y tak mahu kerja lebih dari yang mereka rasa sepatutnya
– Gen Y pussy. Kena marah sikit dah nak resign
– Gen Y kejar social approval di social media. Thats why they spend like crazy and need the money
Beberapa ‘perkara’/tuduhan yang kontroversi dalam komen berdasarkan artikel ini:
– 8 tahun dulu boleh survive dengan RM 1500 (living with parents)
– Penulis tak pernah rasa susah dan tak cukup duit
Beberapa counter-argument dalam komen berdasarkan poin-poin artikel ini:
– RM 1500 sekarang mana cukup. 8 tahun dulu mungkin la cukup
– Personal responsibilities: need more money to support family
– Gen X pun ramai je perangai macam tu. Lagi teruk dari Gen Y pun ada
—–
So, all in all:
– Ada point daripada penulis yang kukuh dan valid
– Ada point yang lemah
– Ada point ‘sekunder’ yang dapat terlalu banyak fokus dan mengalihkan perbincangan yang sebenar
– Ada point daripada komen yang kukuh dan valid
– Terlalu banyaaaaak komen on that RM 1500 8 years back + Anak orang kaya. Come on people. Focus on the issue please. Don’t get sidetracked.
My contribution to this discussion:
– People are too unique but not too uniqe. Dalam ramai2 Gen Y yang kita kata perangai teruk tu, ada juga Gen X dengan perangai yang sama.
– Soalan yang menarik: Pada zaman Gen Z, agak-agak ada tak depa terfikir hal yang macam point2 di atas tentang Gen X? I assume: mestilah ada. Ini isu yang evergreen. Sentiasa berputar semula.
– Jika itu assumption that we take, then it means: ini bukan isu Gen X VS Gen Y, tapi isu Experienced / Senior people VS Inexperienced / Young people.
– But then, still ada exception on that segmentation. Which bring us to what i like as my conclusion: Dalam ramai2 Gen X yang bagus, ramai juga yang tak bagus. Dalam ramai2 Gen Y yang tak bagus, ramai juga yang bagus.
– Which means, the best action that we can do is: Focus on the ‘ramai yang bagus’. They will move this country forward. Yang ‘tak bagus’ tu, selagi mereka waras dan mampu berfikir, satu hari akan sedar juga kesilapan mereka dan akan improve menjadi ‘bagus’.
– Which means, kalau dah tua bangka tapi masih tak ‘bagus’, mereka itu tidak waras.
Maybe you want to attend “generation gap” workshop to understand why is this happening. Try Dr.Kamal Kenny.
Nicely written by a silver spoon kid who parades hundreds of designer handbags/clothes/shoes since her study years and takes millions of narcissistic OOTDs to make her overpriced clothing website sells. Certainly more people will be ‘inspired’ by your perfect social media life!
p/s: So did you work really hard to deserve all that branded stuff?? #justasking
Selamat hari raya & maaf zahir batin
This post shouldn’t come from you. Yes you worked hard for FV. But you don’t understand what most people actually go/went through. You don’t carry what other people carry as responsibilities. When you first started earning, the money is purely for yourself, and you benefited from your parents in terms of lodging, utilities and even food! And who dared scold boss’s daughter? Inb4 oh it’s not my fault I’m the boss’s daughter//i can’t choose that the boss is my dad. Lol.
I’m a gen Y, fresh grad with rm4000 monthly earning (incentive and ot included). Received public mockery and scolding on day to day basis, worked more than 80 hours per week is normal, experienced burnout from time to time. but stayed for the money. Still living with my elderly parents so I don’t pay for rent thank god, groceries and utilities for the family is all on me, car maintenance, gas, insurance, my sister’s education, and it’s still pretty tight.
Shut up and get real Vivy. And stop contradicting yourself before you become a hateful character.
Shame on you guys who fail to see the point of this post. Seems like you find one point to hit Vivy and you discard the rest she says. Grow up, everyone. This is what’s wrong with GenY now if you ask me. It’s that you guys are bitter young people who gets angry when you’re commented on and then find anything you can to hit back. The comment above for example even acknowledged Vivy works hard then it’s like yeah but whatever here’s a list of what’s wrong with you. So you’d rather see bad then good because it’s more fun to fix others not you.
I work abroad and came back to take care of my parents and my problem is not work itself but the people’s mentalities here. Back where I worked for example, we all never discussed how rich our colleagues were but we talked about how to improve work. We even went for drinks after work and got to know each other, but here everything is just skin deep. I have hardship too but reading this it did not cross my mind that people who don’t have hardship can’t speak about their own generation and discussing a healthy debate on how to improve. It’s as if you’re angry that other people have different rezeki than you, and those people need to have no opinions whatsoever. Grow up, GenY, everyone is built different and we need to unite to make a better living. Instead of hitting Vivy, why don’t you think of the meaning of this post and suggest to everyone how we can improve. Sorry but it seems like you guys are empty cans.
I love this post a lot and the comments that come with it. But I feel that Vivy is sending a larger message about the Gen Y mentality and attitude in the workplace NOT the 1.5k salary she drew from her dad. (I’ll come to this)
Here’s my two cents as an employee and as an employer.
I personally graduated and worked a few years abroad before making call to return to Malaysia. I remembered the day I started working, I’m completely independent on my own. With the salary I made, I had to account for rent, gas, food, bills just like everyone else so every cent count. But my approached was to work hard, learn, and SAVE. I remembered giving my all at work and was very frugal by bringing in my lunch box most days . My hard work did paid off when I was given 2 pay increase consecutively within 12 months. It was not because I worked longer hours but because I was extremely productive during the 8 hours, good at multitasking, had a big curiosity to learn and quickly became an asset to the company. That was my personal story as an employee.
Today as an employer myself, going through resumes and hiring, I totally understand the rising costs which had an impact on most people. Regardless, Gen Y still got to earn their way up. Nobody owe you anything and if your commitments at home are high, you should be working hard to leverage your skills. No matter what circumstances you are in- rich, poor etc everyone has to climb the ladder equally. I am a strong believer that if you are hardworking, consistent, and acquire new skills at work, you will advance faster than your peers. But sadly, some of us failed to realize that. I’ve seen some who job hopped for that extra RM200 but could barely speak nor write in proper sentences and asked for cuti ALL THE TIME. Some spent more effort kissing ass than doing their actual job. Some are not productive during the day and dragged through the wee hours. But their level of commitment and learning curve stays stagnant. Yes, job hopping might get you somewhere but not far, it’s the skills and knowledge acquired along the way that matters in the long run. For example, if you want a salary of RM4000 or RM5000 , you will need to prove that you’re worth that much.
Coming back to Vivy’s post, people are not seeing the bigger discussion but are too fixated on the RM1.5k . She’s trying to point out that despite her circumstances, she too had to start from ground up, just like you and me. Yes, she might come from a rich background, but do you think without ambition and the drive to succeed herself, she can build FV to where it is today? Most would think “ohh you’re rich just Shut up and etc. Yes, her privileges might got her those “designer bags” but it’s her grit, consistency and perseverance that contributed to her success today. Since both herself and Fadza are “rich as pointed out’, they could just retreat to their parents’s “mansion” and work for rich daddy and live happily ever after. Did they? Do you think she can secure millions of funding by bringing her cool daddy into the boardroom? Definitely no. It’s all hard work that you didn’t get to see. If you’re given the privileges she has, do you think you will have that mental capacity to drive FV to where it is? Do you know the struggles they had to go through in building her success before judging her?
I always believe no matter if you started off rich or poor, you will have the same opportunity to succeed if you work hard and stays consistent. Also, doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, you have equal rights to talk about the problems Gen Y is facing. Agree or disagree, it’s up for debate.
At the end, you determine your own success. Good Luck!
@nyc
R u like Vivy’s cousins? bff or something?? Like how would you know she never bring her daddy cool to the boardroom?? As a reader.. I wouldn’t know those things ???? Well that’s not the point.
What she’s tryin to prove was all valid it’s just that some of the points she made doesn’t make sense esp coming from her. Thats kinda got her readers went a lil’ bit cray cray.
But she’s all good.. ❤️ Her.
????????????
Salam Vivy.
What a great article to read. Thank you for bringing this to the table. I’m sure for most, this article is like rubbing salt to their wounds, but one of the most important quality of a Muslim is to tell the truth even if the world is against you.
I’m a gen Y myself and I have to agree with every bit of this. I am a doctor and has been in practice for over 4 years.
It’s true that I may not know the struggle of finding jobs but I can assure you we make up to that by working odd hours more than anyone. We started our housemanship with oncalls of 30-40 hours working hours every other day. We do not have weekend offs. We got screwed from front and back by everyone from consultants to janitors. And most of us quit at this point. And some took it to the next level by having parents complain.
I complain too. Cried everyday upon returning from work. Cried when I saw sunlight for the first time in 6 months. Cried when I could only have my meal once a day. But what I didn’t realize then was how necessary these trainings are. At the end of the day, I have lives depending on my decision. Family members with hopes for their loved ones. I only realized these after doing my MOship. When each patient is my responsibility. When I finally have time to sleep but ended up with sleepless nights because one of my patients just died or deteriorated. When I finally have weekend offs but spent them in the hospital because some mass casualty incidence just occured.
Most people thought that the moment someone become a doctor, they have a designated parking spot, a sparkly new private clinics and perform complicated surgeries with precision. The truth is all these take years to achieve. 10-15 years to be exact. And I have found my fellow colleagues quitting after 1-2 years.
I’m sure these hardships are experienced by other sectors as well. There is no shortcut to success. The only path is preseverance and I hope that you will continue to inspire others through your writings.
Keep it up Vivy.
Jazakallahu khair
There is still few passionate people who loves to transfix themselves in what they do. I know that because I am one of the few. My purpose of life is to do things that are meaningful. And I take my job very very very seriously. If you hire me, you get to see it yourself, however, unfortunately – you didn’t.
TAKE ME!! MAKE ME SLOG FOR YOU!!!
I think because we feel need to be perfect, like you said people around us seems like they are having a perfect life. And we want to be like them and maybe our parents want that for us, in this case, me.
The need to get permanent work, engaged/married cause others done that and I haven’t.
As for work, It my first job and I get bored after 8 moths (maybe I just key in data for this month) but try keep it with the work and give my best as my salary come from tax ( feel pressure there to make every things work)
Love this post. I can relate to it since I am a part of the early Gen Y. It’s not easy to earn a living nowadays, that is understandable. For me one of the major factor is social media and media (dramas, films, magazines). They portray this kind of lifestyle that puts pressure not only to the Gen Y, but also to their parents (which in turn puts pressure back on them). Their expectation is high and unrealistic. Nothing comes without hard work and remember to give yourself time. #easycomeeasygo
On point and well written.
So, when are you going to hire to help manage FV’s Social Media team? Just kidding.
Thank you for this post.
well said. even I’m as an employee, I agree with the post statement.
I came back to get the link of the recommended read at the end of your post. So glad I did because i would have missed all the comments.
I couldn’t agree more to what you wrote. It is not about being rich or poor that get you/one to where you are now and this applies to everybody.
My sisters and I owned a small bakery/kitchen that caters mostly pastries, I have had few conversations with people and I find it facinating that most of them quickly assume that we got our initial modal/fund from our parents teachers’ pension graduity money. We have never even thought of asking them for it. For us, it is theirs to spend as they work hard for it and not for us to ‘suka suka’ asked for it.
We were thought from early age that the only way to succeed is to work hard and smart,be humble and learn as much as you can along the way AND also be thrifty with money.
I get what you are trying to say and I’m glad u did this post. People should read this with an open mind and digest the message before bombarding you what all the negative comments.
Peace out???? from a little town in Sabah.
Assalamualaikum wbr,
This is a good read and it is true, this is happening among the youth of today.
There is a saying that the Youth is Wasting on the Young. Back in the day (refering to the 80s and 90s) we would spend all day playing in the sun with friends and neighours, playing congkak, main carah, main gatah, playing football (skipping rope made from rubber bands) and you would hear grandma and parents shouting to come home as soon as the sunsets. Now the youth are highly influenced with Technology and Eletronic Gadgets. Internet access is now available at the palm of your hands. And as soon as you take away the Internet, Ipads, Iphones and Laptop it’s like social sucide for them being Isolated from the Silicon Valley.
Today internet is treated as a right and other countries, Internet is a privilage. The mindset of the youth today is they are programmed to study high, aim high and work for a pay that is high. But in reality ‘The World’ is all about starting from the bottom to reach the highest peak. Nothing comes for Free. The same concept as Internet Rights VS Internet Privillege.Those who are already working should be grateful that in times like these where many youth who are still unemployeed are seeking for employment. And that nothing is a privilege and handed to you on a silver plater. Many people see only the success of others but never see the hardship to build that Empire (The Ice-Berg Theory) Not many are willing to venture into the journey of blood, sweat and tears (What many entrepreneurs endevour). Thank you Vivy for sharing this post and I believe many entrepreneurs are facing the same issue upon hiring and recruiting. And high rates of local-turn over is an issue too for newly established start-ups.
Perhaps when the youth are reading this, they would see it from a Entreprenuership point of view, with open mind and open heart
The comments are highly indicative of the economy we live in. The Malaysian economy is clearly not a great one (thank you extravagant, nonsensical spending by a thoroughly incompetent government) along with a global market that’s not as buoyant as it once was. Throw in an ever increasing cost of living and you’re on your way to a particularly raw deal. Gen Y grows up with the ideal that hard work and a professional job will get you a decent lifestyle – as demonstrated by their own parents in the previous generation, who worked hard and got rewarded for it (after some initial hard years). Fast forward to post uni years, the aforementioned formula doesn’t apply. Gen Y work just as hard, if not harder (being on call 24/7 via technology means we never ‘switch off’ and bosses can reach us anytime. Emails mean we get tasks done quicker and more efficiently, etc.) than previous generations, we pay more for food, transport and other basic expenses that now skyrocket as a result of said economy/govt incompetency, and get to a point where they work for a few years and still can’t afford to upgrade their lifestyle (however little). Can you blame us for that frustration? There are certainly those who want the finer things in life without working for it, but the majority of my peers are refreshingly real about what they can/cannot achieve due to the circumstances around them. In a country like Malaysia where cronyism is rewarded, and a clear part of culture (in many workplaces), it can be hard for people to find it within themselves to pledge their soul to morally corrupt systems. My own experience comes from working as a professional in an expat firm, getting paid a “decent” wage but still living with my parents who luckily haven’t kicked me out (yet), and still needing their help to save money/buy a car to get around a poorly connected public transport system/take a local holiday for sanity’s sake. It’s a difficulty many countries are facing – and the new reality is that our generation on the whole (worldwide) will not be earn/do more than our parents. How will we fix it? Well we can’t really when the focus of our administration is not the well being of the people, but lining their own pockets. But that’s our reality to deal with.
In terms of being a boss, everyone’s circumstances are different – but allowing one standard above another is the recipe to building resentment within offices. Outside of serious illness/other life threatening difficulties, there should be a standard that all employees adhere to – be it working from home, or flexible timing, or other issues the workplace faces. No one’s time should be deemed more valuable than another’s. We all spend that many hours at work per week, it should at least be an enjoyable environment, and one that builds positivity and a yearning for success.
Love the update part in Red. How predictable the readers are. ???? if things doesn’t work out for me in struggling to become an entrepreneur, I would love to start back from scratch via FV ???????? I hope you will hire this 40something noobs in fashion industry! ????
Totally agree with this post. Having experience as employee and now as an employer gives me the benefit of thinking.
I graduated in Physics from one of the top uni in Malaysia and my 1st job as an Asst Civil Engineer which was way toooo far from what i studied and guess what, my monthly income that time was only RM 1200 (~ 10 years ago). Going up n down using public transport and through all the hardship and upgrading myself to certain level from time to time. It’s not in a blink of an eye story. From civil engineer to process engineer, then QA engineer. Alhamdulillah, I survived.
As an employer now, i totally agree that those fresh grad who come and apply for the vacancy, mostly (not all) are very demanding, requesting certain amount of salary to be set first then only they will ‘CONSIDER’ to work. It’s not like those time. They are doing self marketing however they are ‘unsure’ of what comes together with the package.
Its actually true what you highlighted in your post, posting on side bizs during working hours, looking for other jobs on jobstreet, staying online fb (clearly be seen from taskbar, hahahahha).. tasks given need to be follow up several times and not included the attendance issues. Well I guess I just have to bear with that aside from series of positive preach ;p
Hopefully one fine day they will be mature enough to understand there are things you learn best in calm and some in storm, hardship encountered in the past will help to succeed in the future.
hi vivy..
will u fired a woman who waiting to gift birth after 4months working with u..
she inform almost everything n just because some of the information not clear or leak of ur memory and claim her lying to ur company
Love and understanding in a post ????????
Salam and Hello Vivy.
I’ve been your silent reader for quite some time now but this is my first time leaving a comment on any of your blog/Instagram posts.
Why i’ve decided to pen down my comment is simply because i find that all points you stated above are true. I’m a Gen Y myself, early 90’s and just starting my career as i’ve recently graduated.
I’ve came across more often than not, ungrateful and negative acquaintances throughout my school + uni life. Ashamed, but i was once like that too.
Then i realized how deteriorating it is to be and think that way, which I’m grateful i realized it sooner than later.
Your post has been such a good reminder to me, and i decided i must thank you for that. Regardless of what people might say about you, they are your opinions.
Thank you, again. May God bless you.
MasyaAllah, this is the first time i read your blog. and it is really attract me to read more and more. you are my idol. i adore you. your works, your lifestyle, your fashion and everything. i hope i can meet you one day and there’s only one question that i would ask you if i meet you. it is “how”? 🙂
I am depressed and at the same time agree with your statement on weather. Because it is TRUE.