This article I found via Digg points out a big difference in the expectations younger workers have regarding their workplace and personal access to the use of technology: Lack of Facebook Access Makes You Want to Quit? Grow up, Punks by Ann All.

Another article on the subject of younger workers in the IT field written by the same author states:

The not-so-good news: Many of them lack basic written and oral communication skills. A survey by placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found basic tech skills lacking in 5 percent of college grads, vs. a worrisome 27 percent with deficiencies in critical thinking skills and 50 percent whose writing abilities were not up to snuff.

From Kids and Work Culture: When I Was Your Age, I Worked 9-to-5

The values of Gen Y are different even from the Gen X crowd. Smart (and esp. older) managers would be wise to stay on top of this shift, and have a plan in place for how to recruit, train, and retain such employees.

My gut tells me that the concept of Results-only Workplace Environment (ROWE) is on the right track for businesses and careers (higher paid management, consulting, and knowledge worker type roles) that aren't as place and time dependent.

So be ware the Gen Y. They have a set of values that make them peculiar.

Personally, I find ROWE extremely attractive in this hyper connected universe.