Exactly, we’ve all been grown up to believe there’s more to life than making money. Now that Gen Y seems to actually embrace this, corporate management types seem to be freaking out.

All I have to say is that nice chairs, conferences, anc company lunches are all business expenses and as far as I know they are tax deductible. Giving an employee a $5k raise just costs the company more money and rarely improves retention or job satisfaction.

I have a friend that worked for Google and I con honestly say her paycheck never came up in every discussion about why she loved working there.

Your observations are interesting and in line with what I would expect. The participant ribbons, as you so aptly put it, are recognized I think even in elementary school. Kids know.

The big executive bonuses are beyond my comprehension, and I think beyond most people’s. Money is rarely cited as a primary indicator of job satisfaction. Recognition, a certain amount of self determination, and ability to grow and learn are often given as top factors.