Competent, hardworking millennials are getting shafted by older employees who feel they deserve bigger salaries
The difference is that, unlike Stefanie, I don't wear this as some kind of badge of honor. It was what needed to be done in my particular case. I spent a few bitter years after college jealous of my friends living in NYC who could afford the luxury of unpaid internships. But I've matured to know that working that hard to get by should not be the norm and I'd love to see everyone have the opportunities I didn't.
Cutting your teeth, working your way up, putting in your hours... Those are great ways for longer standing members of the work force to keep younger employees in their place. It's not based on merit, but instead it's the people in power holding the only thing they inherently have over young people as critical. You can work incredibly hard, learn everything about your craft, perform excellently at your duties, but you can never speed up time to match their years on the job. It's a justification for bloating salaries of long-standing management, regardless of how ineffective they may be.
Basically what I'm saying is that if companies can pay CEOs millions, they can pay employees an actual living wage based on merit, not the number of years you've worn business casual. More than that, you shouldn't have to beat the system to get an education and real life experience. Yes, Stefanie, I too worked very hard when I was younger. And I honestly wish no student or young person has to work that hard ever again.
Thank you for your time,
EEE Stevenson
Dallas, Texas