STATESIDE
with them to the interview. That is the true defi nition of a “helicopter parent” who hovers over the child’s life.
It is no surprise that these young adults have little independence or grit. It sounds like the same crowd who has allegedly spent up to $20,000 on dormitory room decorations so their kids can feel “comfortable and safe” while enjoying their surroundings. The most I got in my day was a small refrigerator and a landline phone wired into the room.
Wall Street Journal Associate Editor Mary Julia Koch, a Gen Zer herself, claims this generation primarily relies on devices to relate to others because “in-person life is diffi cult” for them. What! How can anyone ever work in sales, customer relations, a service position or in an offi ce environment with that attitude? Before many of you say I am painting with too broad a brush, let me acknowledge the millions of fabulous young people working hard to pay their way or advance at their jobs. They are “worth their weight in gold” as employees to be appreciated.
A notable example is Jack, a 20-year-old college student. He worked hard for me this summer doing “handyman” odd jobs around my house. At the start of his summer break, Jack contacted all 300 homes in my development to offer his services. He placed an informative fl yer in every mailbox.
I hired him immediately. Jack did not disappoint me. He was dependable, honest, ambitious and knew exactly what he wanted to
earn all summer. He also had a part-time night job. Jack not only hit his goal, but he surpassed it. Jack, and those like him, will someday make great employees and should be hired immediately. There should be no thought of “demographic” profi le, which seems to have fallen out of favor these past few years. In fairness, there are legitimate reasons for some of this disconnected behavior. The 2020-2021 Covid-19 pandemic’s global chaos compounded economic challenges with massive educational and businesses shutdowns. Millions unsuccessfully tried virtual learning and never experienced the traditional milestones and customs.
I believe closing the U.S. created disasters we haven’t recovered from yet. Millions lost jobs and businesses, as young people grew more accustomed to a world on screens. Educational quality deteriorated for this exact group now seeking work.
And, if you needed one more crazy repercussion, here it is. A late July Jerusalem Post travel section feature reported a new vacation phenomenon…Sleep Tourism. Seeing the world is no longer enough. Travel must now offer restful sleep accommodations. Journalist Ziv Reinstein claims this refl ects “an exhausted, fatigued, and constantly connected society seeking to escape not only from work, but also from the relentless burden of life.” Call it emotional overload. Hybrid work environments, social networks and a constant need to be available have blurred the lines between professional and personal lives.
A successful vacation used to mean multiple itinerary destinations. For Gen Z, constant connectivity has resulted in an attitude that mental health and balance are not peripheral luxuries, but necessary for a quality of life. Tourism, including the gaming industry, should consider investing in more ways for guests to experience stress-free vacations.
Can you imagine the Strip hotels with thousands of people snoring away at all hours?
Sharon Harris
Sharon has worked in the casino and coin- operated amusement industries since the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Sharon transferred her public relations and journalism skills to the gaming industry. She wrote her fi rst feature for Casino International predecessor EUROSLOT magazine in 1994.
As Associate Editor, North America for Casino International, Sharon has chronicled the explosive growth of U.S. gaming and reported on its most signifi cant changes. She has traveled across America to participate in dozens of industry events and has interviewed
hundreds of gaming operators,
executives and suppliers.
BMM qp strip CI Oct26 ad
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