Psssttt....Can GenYers Keep a Secret?

Generation Y (sometimes called the Millenial Generation) is often touted as being technologically savvy, great at coming up with new ways to work and influencing the workplace as never before. They’re also said to be a bit whiny and have a sense of entitlement.

Well, it also seems they can’t keep a secret.

Now, before everyone starts hitting the “comment” button to send me nasty messages, I just want to outline a conversation I had with Marian Salzman, who is touted as being one of the world’s leading futurists/trendspotters, and chief marketing officer for Porter Novelli.She noted that with the “total transparency” this generation practices, it can be a bit tricky getting them to keep their mouths shut – and their fingers away from typing or texting everything and anything they know or think.

So, maybe you're thinking this isn’t such a big deal. Maybe you think it doesn't matter what they put on MySpace or Facebook or even LinkedIn. But Salzman thinks it's a problem.

“We’re going to have to teach this generation the rules of confidentiality,” Salzman says. “We’re going to have to teach them to keep secrets and to learn the value of privacy."

This is an interesting point, I think. This generation has grown up with 24/7 news and they are accustomed to finding out anything they want with a few keystrokes. They’ve been privy to many "private" issues, from celebrity sex tapes to embarrassing conversations in the White House. They’re very comfortable sharing any and all information online.

Would it necessarily be bad if they made the workplace more open? Or, could their lack of discretion and judgment cause them to share information that could damage a company in the short or long term?

Maybe only time will tell. For right now, companies seem torn. At a time when they fire employees for blogging about the job, they also are entering -- or at least exploring -- the blogosphere.

Do you think it's a fair assessment that GenYers can't keep their mouths shut? And, does it really matter?




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Dignity and Privacy in the Workplace

Most of us have been guilty of it a time or two: Trying to get a peek at the confidential files on the boss’s desk, or perhaps gossiping with a trusted co-worker about another employee’s performance problems.

And while this may seem harmless -- you’re just keeping up on what’s going on after all -- it points out that the workplace needs some confidentiality guidelines. Think of it this way: Would you like it if someone were trying to get a glimpse of your last performance evaluation, or was dishing the latest dirt about your spat with a manager?

Chances are it would make you uncomfortable, and probably a little angry. While we may like to see every detail of a person’s life exposed on daily talk shows or on YouTube, it’s another matter when it’s our lives being discussed.

At the same time, you need to realize that talking about co-workers and bosses in an unprofessional way can find you in legal hot water depending on what position you hold in a company, what information you are discussing and with whom. Workers have been fired for everything from discussing salaries to gossiping about romantic relationships.

Now, there's no reason to be paranoid and think you can't shoot the breeze a bit at work. Just keep in mind that everyone deserves dignity and privacy -- and that should temper your actions and what you discuss.

With that in mind, here are some ways to improve confidentiality for all of us in the workplace:

1. During conference calls, make sure each person is identified before beginning a conversation. Ask that if anyone joins in later they be immediately identified.
2. Do not discuss your salary or anyone else’s unless it’s part of your collective bargaining agreement.
3. When making a phone call, clearly identify who is on the other end before speaking, and always identify yourself, even if you are calling a familiar number.
4. Do not attempt to get the boss’s spouse alone at the next office party and gain information. In fact, don’t talk company business with a spouse or significant other of an employee or manager.
5. If you’re discussing company business, always be aware of who is around you and who could overhear. Don’t let anyone sneak up behind you -- you might even go so far as to never sit with your back to the door when in conference or a private conversation.
6. Lock your desk and your files during lunch or at the end of the day, or when you’re going to be away for a certain amount of time, such as in a meeting. Take precautions to protect your computer information by keeping your password in your head -- not written down somewhere. Follow company procedures regarding removing laptops from the premises, and don't think those rules apply to everyone but you.
7. Use a paper shredder, and avoid putting confidential information into the recycling bin if it has not been shredded first.
8. When receiving internal mail, always make sure your name is on the front before opening, even if it was hand-delivered to you.
9. Unless you receive a supervisor’s permission, do not allow anyone to have access to information that you consider confidential.
10. Resist discussing a co-worker’s troubles (personal or professional) with another employee, even if you do it out of “concern.”



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Learning to Mind Your Own Business

The report was just sitting there, almost under your nose. OK, so it was on the boss’s desk and you were sitting a few feet away, but you have really good eyesight – and the ability to read upside down – so it wasn’t really your fault you read a co-worker’s recent performance evaluation, was it?

And it wasn’t really snooping when you were looking for a pencil in a colleague’s desk and came across her pay stub – your eyes just accidentally happened to focus on how much she makes a month.

But chances are if someone took a peek at your performance evaluation or looked at your paycheck without your permission, you would probably be a little angry or upset. While we all delight in having the lives of celebrities exposed in all their demented ways, it’s not nearly so enjoyable when our private information is exposed to those at work.

And here’s another consideration: Some companies have strict policies on what employees may or may not discuss, and blabbing that you know what someone else earns or revealing confidential details of a co-worker’s performance evaluation could cause the boss to take disciplinary action against you.

So, while it’s true that it makes the workplace more enjoyable when we’re all friendly with one another and perhaps share some personal information, the key is to remember that we all deserve dignity and privacy, and that should temper our actions. Some ways to do that include:

1. Locking your desk. This also includes your files during lunch or at the end of the day, or when you’re going to be away for a certain amount of time, such as in a meeting. Don’t keep personal information – such as your pay stubs or health information – at work. Take them home and file in a secure cabinet.
2. Using a paper shredder at work. Avoid putting confidential information into a recycling bin if it has not been shredded first. Personally shred your own information and don’t rely on someone else to do it.
3. Reading carefully. When receiving internal mail, always make sure your name is on the front before opening, even if it was hand-delivered to you. NEVER peek inside an envelope to someone else, and NEVER snoop in someone else's e-mail.
4. Standing firm. Unless you receive a supervisor’s permission, do not allow anyone to have access to information that you consider confidential.
5. Resist being too friendly. When attending a company function, ask your significant other not to reveal too many personal details about you. It’s one thing for your husband to tell them you love fishing – another to reveal that you’re about to default on your mortgage. At the same time, don’t try and corner the boss’s partner to try and find out the inside scoop on the manager. That’s unfair and unprofessional.