Lesson 2: Millennials and Fillennials: Ethical Challenges and Responses

I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Describe Millennials and Fillennials

Point out traits of the millennials and Fillennials that are inimical to their
moral development

II. MATERIALS
Laptop
Projector

III. INTRODUCTION

In the recent years, proverbial generation gap become more visible in the Philippines due
to changing mores, styles, and spending habits. Marga Manlapig finds out more about the differences
among the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and the young
leaders known as Generation T. You just don’t understand over the years, these words have been the
battle cry of young people against the strictures and policies imposed by their elders. It is a cry usually
followed up with a bracing statement that invariably begins with “When I was your age, we did things
differently”.

IV. TOPICS AND KEY CONCEPT

a. Millennials End and Generation Z begins

Who are Millennials? Those were born from 1981-1996. They are also known as
Generation Y. They were preceded by Generation X (1965-1980) and were followed by Generation Z
who were born from 1997 to 2012.
 b. Values and characteristic of the Millennials Generation

One reported result of millennial optimism in entering into adulthood with unrealistic
expectations which sometimes leads to disillusionment, their expectations may have resulted from the
very encouraging, involved and almost ever-present group of parents.
Millennials are a generation that is dependent on technology to improve their job
performance and intends on a flexible schedule and strives for a better work-life (Choong, Keh, Tan,
Lim, &Tho, 2013). More ever, millennials were targeted due to their highly opinionated demeanor
that is often viewed as troubling, overly demanding, uncommitted to the common workplace (Smith
& Nichols, 2015). Being in their demanding youth, they have relatively fewer familial/marital
commitments, hence endowing them with freedom to initiate their entrepreneurial prowess in the real
world (Lee, Lee, Chua &Han, 2017.
As Smith and Nichols (2015) put it, millennials yearn work that encompasses meaning,
enjoyment, and work-life-balance.
c. Other research findings on millennials are given below:

1. Millennials are confident

This confidence comes from their trust and optimism (Guha et al., 2010) felt that a
generation’s confidence was fostered and molded by previous generations.
2. Millennials have high-esteem and assertive
Research shows that millennials rank higher in self-esteem and assertiveness when compared
to previous generations at that same age (Deal et al.,2010)
3. Millennials are known to be achievement-focused.
They have need not only to do well, but to excel and surpass all goals and aspirations (Kaifi
et., 2012; Kowske et al., 2010) This leads them to seek out new learning opportunities.
4. Millennials are more willing to put forth extra effort to help an organization succeed.
5. Millennials enjoy working in teams.
Millennials have been raised on sports team, standardized testing, and group learning, so it is
not surprising that this would transfer into the workplace (Kowske et al., 2010)
6. Millennials are family-focused and thus need to have better work/life balance
This generation grew-up with emphasis on family which has created a shift toward a more
work/life balance.
7. Millennials enjoy utilizing technology and socially responsible.
The millennial generation became dependent on technology at an earlier age than other
generation Deal et al. (2010) found, much like learning a new language, people who utilize
technology at an earlier age become more proficient than people who learn later in their life.
(Kaifi et al., 2012). They are tech-savvy (well informed about or proficient in the use of
modern technology, especially computers.)

d. Common Complaints Against Millennials from Baby Boomers

1. Lack of socials skills

2. Overly service-focused
3. Impatient for change
4. Millennials are demanding (Look at me generation) b: “want it all; want it now” generation
5. Too confident and concerned with their own interests.
6. Lacking in work ethics, self-important and disloyal. (Myers and Sadaghiani (2010)
7. Overambitious
 Ethics GE107

Millennials may attempt to gain important positions in large projects soon after being hired
(Myers and Sadaghiani, 2010). Coworkers can be taken aback by this, believing it to be
arrogance driving the new generation and not their need to overachieve.
8. Lower levels of cognitive reasoning

e. Fillennials

Filipino millennials have their own unique characteristics, and thus are specifically called
Fillennials.
Fillennials are rising up to the dare. Gae Martinez shared how Filipino millennials are
different. (https://business.inquirer.net/257324/millenials-working)

“In our studies of the Filipino millennials, although they are generally considered as the
type who have a YOLO-mind-set (You Only Live Once), Fillennials live at the moment and
adventurous. We found out that our culture and values make them different, “Martinez
explained. She, therefore, tagged this market segment as “Fillennials,” who are very
passionate because they want to be better than their parents. “That is why they try to achieve
more, pursue higher studies. They recognize that living the life and being able to live the life
you deserve should enable one to live with its benefits,” she added.

f. Fillennials are described as:

 Social media dependent

 The “selfie-generation”
 Spend for luxury goods
 “Broke”
 Narcissist
 Me, me, me Generation
 Fun loving
 Self-expressive and liberal
 Politically and socially engaged
 Short attention span
(Valeriano, Justine, Millennial Marketing: Accessed 7-7-19)
An article of Nathan A. Heflik, Ph.D., The Psychology of “YOLO” discusses the
characteristic of millennials and Fillennials:
The catchphrase “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) has become a cultural sensation. It
is not new. The Latin poet Horace coined the phrase “Carpe Diem” in 23 BC.
g. The Benefits of YOLO
 Happier and more focused
 More time to enjoy
 Promote positivity
 Devote more time to activities and relationship
 Tend to focus more on pleasant aspects
 Spend more time looking at positive words than negative words
 Physically Healthier
 Devote more time to activities
 Better able to manage stressful situations

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h. The Downside of YOLO
Some unruly behaviors are associated with YOLO. Here are publicized cases of “YOLO”
being associated with some rather unruly behavior. These include a person tweeting “YOLO”
before crashing their car while driving drunk, and a young woman storming the field of a
college football game intoxicated, and after being arrested and released, tweeting “YOLO” in
referenced to the incidents. YOLO makes millennial more daring. The research of professors
Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, Sheldon Solomon indicates that people respond to
mortality thoughts in ways that bolster and enhance their self-esteem and belief systems. In
the case of men, mortality reminders cause them to drive more recklessly. In other words,
reminders of death, of the scarcity of life, often, ironically, promote reckless behavior.