Can we talk? Boomers not explaining employee benefits to gen Y

      A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Unum reveals that baby boomers have helped prepare their generation Y kids to deal with life’s risks by discussing tricky topics such as drug use and sex, but they are skipping talks about employee benefits as this young generation enters the workforce. In fact, more have discussed car-buying than have discussed the role of workplace benefits in protecting financial security. « Parents and mentors have talked to generation Y about the risks they face growing up, but they aren’t completing that process by talking about how they can protect themselves financially in young adulthood, » said Mike Simonds, senior vice president for Unum. « Until this new generation of workers understands the benefits decisions they will have to make, the talking isn’t done. » According to the survey, 72 percent of generation Y workers (ages 18 to 30) say their parents or another adult mentor has talked with them about saving money. 61 percent say a parent or another adult has talked with them about drugs. 61 percent say a parent or another adult has talked with them about job hunting. Nearly 60 percent have talked with a parent or another