“It seems that the philosophy of “shared sacrifice” evoked by this past generation has been left behind. Instead of the Greatest Generation, we are now in the midst of what might be called the “Avaricious Generation,” whose defining characteristic is an insatiable appetite for the trappings of status and wealth” (Monheit, 2010, p. 272). Studies show how effective parenting can influence an individual's independence and the roles these characteristics play throughout adulthood (Lekes, Gingras, Phillippe, Koestner, & Fang, 2009). In addition to providing structure, consistent rewards and punishments must exist to reinforce this behavior. These traits acquired throughout adolescence are detrimental to managers in determining employee motivation methods and effective job performance. For thousands of years, humans have struggled for independence. Moses' people fleeing the Egyptians and the pilgrims fleeing the religious persecution of Europe are examples of people seeking freedom from the hostile conditions that curbed their free will. For these groups, independence was far from free, the journey was dangerous, but the reward was extraordinary. Their nobility and perseverance are what make their actions so admirable and memorable hundreds and thousands of years later. Getting something for nothing has not always been the norm, but an acquired trait passed down for many generations. Parental involvement has been linked to a wide variety of outcomes, including perceived competence and control, according to a study by Farkas and Grolnick (2010, p.267). Child autonomy supported by parents produces high levels of warmth and involvement while providing structure, motivation, and perseverance (Farkas & Grolnick, 2010, p.266). The structure allows children... middle of paper... to make essential kinds of sacrifices to promote the common good” (Monheit, 2010, p. 272). Receiving “something,” whether tangible goods or feedback, not contingent on specific performance will decrease an individual's motivation and satisfaction as well as their future performance (Podaskoff, 2010, p. 298 ). Parental influence on adolescents shapes characteristics and behaviors in adulthood. These learned traits are relevant to managers seeking to validate and administer rewards to achieve a specific outcome or goal. By considering personality response to feedback, one can determine how non-performance rewards may have little effect on individuals' attitudes or behaviors (Podaskoff, 2010, p.299). People who get something for nothing become good for nothing through unwarranted honors for unsatisfactory behavior and performance..