What do you want from work?

auric

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So fellow members how do the diffrent generations see things, is this short note from the FT correct?



APPOINTMENTS: Boomers and Xers head in same direction
By Richard Donkin
Financial Times; May 20, 2004

The differences between the generations are highlighted regularly in news stories - such as one last week, headlined "too posh to wash", suggesting that trainee nurses in the UK were less willing than their predecessors to give patients bed baths.

We have become conditioned, therefore, to believe that each generation is different from its predecessor. But a new and extensive body of research looking at cross-generational attitudes in the workforce appears to be finding more similarities than differences between the generations.

In fact, the only real differences between the young of today and their counterparts of 50 years ago may be time and circumstance. This is not to ignore, however, the significant impact of changing circumstances.

The first stage of the research, launched by the Center for Creative Leadership, an international non-profit organisation, examined the responses of 3,417 people, mostly in the US, from an internet survey. A second survey*, starting this week, will concentrate on European respondents.

Since the aim of the research is to shed light on different approaches to leadership and development, most of the first sample were managers: 17 per cent filled high-level executive posts, 21 per cent occupied the layer beneath this and 27 per cent were in middle management. About one-quarter - 24 per cent - had professional jobs, 8 per cent were in hourly paid jobs and 3 per cent did not identify a level.

The respondents included solid samples from the baby boomers ("early boomers" born between 1946 and 1954 and "late boomers" born between 1955 and 1963) and "generation Xers" born after 1964. There were fewer, however, in the pre-1945 age group, named by the researchers the "silent generation", and fewer still in the "late generation Xers" born between 1977 and 1982.

Using questions designed to test suppositions, the research has sifted out some revealing responses that should help to inform retention policies. When asked if they saw themselves staying with their employer for more than three years, less than 40 per cent of the late Xers said yes, compared with almost 70 per cent of the early boomers - the group with the most long-term view in the sample. Fewer of the older generation were thinking this way because some would be looking at retirement in the short term.

Comments made when asked what they wanted from employers often differed in nuance between adjoining generations, but markedly between the oldest and the youngest. The silent generation, for example, says: "Give me interesting work to do, recognise my efforts and pay me fairly." The late Xers, on the other hand, want advancement options with flexibility around work schedules, mentoring and merit money for good work rather than extra pay for seniority.

The late boomers want more responsibilities, challenges, big money and the opportunity to influence the direction of an enterprise. Early boomers want a little less than that but appear to be heading in the same direction. Early Xers want to learn and advance themselves, earn a competitive salary, get some recognition and have fun.

None of this is very surprising. But training departments might be intrigued to find that only the older generation showed any interest in computer-based training for learning technical skills. On-the-job training was valued by all the generations but most strongly by the younger generations who rejected workbooks, manuals and classroom instruction.

Jennifer Deal, who has been leading the research, says that one of the most striking aspects of the findings is the similarities among the generations, rather than their differences.

"All have a strong desire to learn on the job and all tend to be strongly focused on their careers," she says.

The need for challenges, learning and development opportunities featured strongly across most of the generations. Some of the younger generations complained that they felt under-utilised.

"We kept seeing the comment: 'No one really cares if we show up on a morning'," says Ms Deal.

This might explain why so many people these days feel it is acceptable to take a day's sickness absence. (For this reason, a Tesco experiment among some of its UK stores in which staff will not be paid for the first three days they take off sick might be a winner. It shows that managers do care whether people turn up).

In contrast to younger workers, the oldest generation of employees stressed the need for respect and recognition. This is the "been there, done that" generation that wants some respect for its abilities but does not want to be sent charging off on wild goose chases.

This is likely to present issues for younger managers setting assignments for older workers. I suspect that too many young managers are ducking these tasks because they are poorly equipped to handle old stagers.

One reason for these deficiencies - and this could relate to differing circumstances, mentioned earlier - is that the younger generation are leaving it later to have families. Few experiences prepare you for management better than rearing a family. If you can handle a stubborn three-year-old you can handle anyone.

While it is understandable that young people want to learn, the workplace needs teachers as well as learners and there are things that older workers need to learn, often from their younger colleagues. But the younger generation has yet to develop a strong sense of giving back. Too often they fail to recognise that they know things their elders do not know, and too often when they do learn this lesson, their response is to elbow the older professionals aside.

The validity of these comments, must, of course, take account of their being seen through the lens of one generation. It is difficult to avoid the fact that generational differences are most probably a matter of differing perspectives relative to the prevailing values and economic standards of each generation.

The most obvious manifestation of these differences is generational envy. The problem is that each generation envies the other for different reasons. The younger generation envies its parents because of the ease with which they found a place on the housing ladder, the comparative security of their careers and the possibility of solid pensions giving them the ability to enjoy retirement. This older generation, on the other hand, envies the choice of education and careers available to young people today.

The answer to this problem is to be found in the recognition that generations cannot exist in a vacuum. Each one needs the experiences, learning and perspectives of those in front and those behind.

One question remains: why does every new generation appear so selfish to older ones? To that I have no answer.

*If you want to participate in the latest research, e-mail: [email protected] richarddonkin.com
 
I work purely to pay the bills and afford to do what I want with my social life. No reason other than that, not in the least bit career motivated.
 
i'm lucky in that i enjoy my work (when i'm working). i tried assaulting the corporate ladder but got about 3/4's of the way up it realised i was getting stress excema, an ulcer and a serious addiction to caffene and nicotene and that my life was about to implode.
my life did implode and then i was made redundant so i took stock for 6 months, retrained myself so i was up to date with what i really wanted to do and haven't looked back since. money isn't a big motivator for me, it's nice to be able to buy cool toys but as long as there's food on the table and a roof over our heads then i'm happy.
cheers


julian
 
I'd retire tomorrow if I could afford to. There are so many other things I want to do with my life that I don't have time for while I'm working. I would never be bored.

My job goes in fits and starts. Sometimes it's interesting for a while. When it goes quiet I can surf the net for information related to my other interests. I have so much reading to do.

At least this job is well paid. If I stick at it for 5 more years, then I can retire :banana:
 
Originally posted by ilockyer
I work purely to pay the bills and afford to do what I want with my social life. No reason other than that, not in the least bit career motivated.

and

Originally posted by Technobear
I'd retire tomorrow if I could afford to. There are so many other things I want to do with my life that I don't have time for while I'm working. I would never be bored

Ditto.
 
you know i'm not sure that if i did suddenly become financially able to retire tomorrow that i would. i'd probably still do what i do however the pressure to actually produce something would be removed, i could spend all day noodling with special effects or shadow mapping or ai if i wanted to. the other thing is that i could be doing it on a beach in thailand too. which is a bonus i guess :D.
cheers


julian
 
I reckon if you can meld the excitement, exuberance and ââ'¬Å"I know bestââ'¬Â of youth with the grey hair, sagging belly and ââ'¬Å"I know bestââ'¬Â of someone much older then you will be able to forge the perfect tool for today's business environment. One problem I have often encountered is that both parties see this on a personal level as a loose-loose situation when in reality it is more often than not a win-win situation.

It is not a human right or an inalienable right to enjoy your work but it helps.

Auric:)
 
i actualy realy enjoy my job,even whilst loading a truck at 4am.
middle of last year i decided money wasnt everything and took a step down the carea ladder,away from the paper work,bolotics,and stress.The diffrence in salary is soon cancled out by a much more relaxed way of life,and living in a nicer part of the country.
 
Be warned

Chaps

Be warned, you career is a funny thing.

I started work as an apprentice toolmaker in 1965 and took early retirement at the age of 55 two months ago.

I held a fairly senior position (Purchasing Manager) and at one time was responsible for an annual budget of £400 million.

I worked like hell but enjoyed it and was rewarded well financially.

Thanks to sensible investing, a good pension and a generous severance package, I need never work again. This is a dream for most people.

When I took my first week off, it was brilliant, I could do what I wanted whenever I wanted. No office intray to go back to, resulted in a stress free existance I never dreamed possible.

However, after 4 weeks, I missed the power and influence, I also felt guilty about being paid a goodly sum of money for doing nothing. I know I have earned my pension but it did not seem right receiving a cheque for sitting on my ass.

I now temp. I have just completed 4 weeks sitting in whilst the company recruited a permanent Buyer

I am soon off on a 3 week cruise around Mexico and I will then work another month somewhere else and then take a month off at least. I will then temp somewhere else and so on.

This to me is the ideal workstyle but you have to be set up to do it.

Regards

Mick
 
Hi Mick,

"However, after 4 weeks, I missed the power and influence, I also felt guilty about being paid a goodly sum of money for doing nothing. I know I have earned my pension but it did not seem right receiving a cheque for sitting on my ass."

I am not suprised to hear you say that.

When I worked in Germany for MBB they had a plan for people retiring. This involved them working part time for around 6 months so that they got used to not having to be at work.

I think your solution if you like a bit of change is a good one but won't suit all people. Peopl who need stability, continuity etc won't like that at all. Maybe a part time job with extended breaks would suit them?

Ian
 
Ian

I have to agree with your final paragraph that different people have different attitudes.

I must admit after two months I am finding it easier to relax and may well take up some form of voluntary work.

However I enjoy working in different places and that in itself represents a challenge when you can look at their system and suggest improvements.

Horses for courses.

Regards

Mick
 
Re: Be warned

Originally posted by mick parry
I know I have earned my pension but it did not seem right receiving a cheque for sitting on my ass.

Oh come on, Mick! You've EARNED that right by hard graft - you shouldn't feel guilty.

Let's face it, there are enough people out there that sit on their ass and get paid for it - it's called DOLE SCROUNGING. You've never done that - you've earned the right to kick back and chill.

I tell you one thing - unless I couldn't live on my pension (highly likely the way things are going), I intend to sit on MY ass as soon as I retire (well, at least, do stuff other than sit on my ass in front of a computer all day doing boring junk I hate).

I only work to pay to play; with the way taxes and unemployment/(BOGUS) asylum are going, we're finally having slavery turned on its head, 300 years later. Lap it up, people. It's only going to get worse.
 
I to would retire tomorrow, just give me the chance. To answer the question I want a job I enjoy, which offers the same pay and security I have now.

I've just had a few days off so I might be a bit biased, but over those days I missed my job for about 0.0001 milliseconds. I'm not in the least bit interested in the subject matter (I.T) anymore, I do training courses because I have to, and have no wish to progress any further up the company ladder.

There are three choices I have been offered for progression - one is to go onto phone support, which is a no go as 1) I don't take s*it from people, and 2) I lock up on phones. I could go for a field support job, which takes the piss as for not a great deal less money I might as well simply become a delivery driver, that way you do your job just driving, not having the stress of driving to wherever your going THEN doing your job. And finally internal support - great when things are running well but when things go the shape of a pear, and this being a profit led organisation, you are in a 300terawatt spot light.....

So essentially I'm going to stick with fixing these computer thingies, getting very little job satisfaction and being utterly bored. On the plus side I work with a great bunch of lads, it's fairly well paid and I know the job inside out.
 

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