A recent article on workplace Generation X (approximately age 32-44) cites the increasing angst of this group, people who want the work-life balance, high pay, and are largely waiting for the job economy to improve so they can shop themselves. According to the author, this group feels slightly neglected, being trapped between the Baby Boomers who won't or can't retire with their devastated 401(k) and IRA accounts, and the bright-eyed and eager "just happy to have a job" Generation Y kids, who apparently are supposed to be the hope for the future.
I can see some evidence of this. While I count myself blessed in terms of having a healthy and robust career, I've been in at least two job cycles in two different companies where upper management either formally or informally communicated that raises and promotions were going to become somewhat restricted due to broader economic forces. I've seen numerous friends who have been unceremoniously laid off by a restructuring company, or lingered underemployed simply because "there's nothing better out there". Growing up as entry-level employees when "work-life balance" was the trendy thing in HR gave us the belief, right-or-wrong, that it was actually possible to make tons of money without working tons of hours. Growing up in the tech-boom gave us the belief that, hey, anyone can come up with an innovative idea, go entrepreneur, cash out, and live out the rest of my life doing non-profit work.
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Maybe it's just a case of being in the wrong place or the wrong time, but somehow this generation's battle-tested adaptability, plus undying cynicism and wariness towards every other generation will get them through just fine.
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