I asked a group of Baby Boomer and Gen X managers recently about their thoughts on Gen Y workers. Their responses were a little shocking: “all these Gen Yers want is instant gratification”, “they all have short attention spans”, “they are spoiled, disrespectful, and technology-dependent”. Can this really be true? As a baby boomer dad with two Gen Y kids just entering the workplace I was concerned that my bright and caring offspring may morph into some alter ego Gen Y Dr. Jekyll or Mr Hyde when at work. Then I remembered what Will Rogers once said “It isn’t what you don’t know that will hurt you, it is what you do know that isn’t true”. Research suggests that each generation has its own distinct attitudes, behaviors, expectations, habits, and motivational buttons, and it seems that these differences can lead to misunderstandings and even to inter-generational conflict. Could it be that my Boomer and Xer manager friends have fallen for the stereotyping trap and that, in reality, Gen Yers are fast-paced, multitasking, fun-seeking, and technology-savvy young people with a lot to offer us older folks? I hope this is the case as I would hate to think of my two bright and motivated Gen Y kids as characters form a Jekyll and Hyde movie.