That was the claim made during a recent meeting.

The argument: Members of that group are disengaged, feel like the company owes them something and don't work hard.

Of course, this elicited contrary comments: 50-somethings consider good work to be done two hours before the scheduled work day begins and well into the evening and weekends — preferably at the office. The comments went on: Members of that age group don't understand how to put technology to good use to improve job efficiency and, therefore, do more work from anywhere — not just the office.

The dispute reminded me of comments Karen Young, chapter president of HR Professionals of Central PA and president of HR Resolutions in Harrisburg, once made to the Business Journal.

"For the older generation, they see that as a poor work ethic. They see it as lazy and disrespectful. But it isn't. Gen Y is getting more done in less amount of time. Technology is a huge part of this," she said.

Amen.

"Baby boomers have the hardest time adjusting to this new generation. We are so used to showing up on time, doing what we were told and then taking our work home. Younger people have different priorities. They want to have a life," Young said.

Younger generations, not so much.

"They think, 'I'll do my job when I want to do it; I know when I'm most productive,'" she said. "The more we allow the younger people to have a say in the structure of their job, the happier they are."

Agreed.

How do you manage this younger generation — and its proficiency for technology — at your company?

Andréa Maria Cecil is managing editor at the Central Penn Business Journal.