The author reminisces about their childhood, marked by the resounding ”THONK” of the time clock at their parents’ workplace, a symbol of a pragmatic approach to work. For their parents, work wasn’t about self-fulfillment or identity building, but a means to provide for their family and secure a pension—security being the most valued virtue. This generational perspective contrasts sharply with the present-day workforce, specifically the younger generation, who approach work with different expectations. The author recounts a conversation with a friend in HR, who expresses frustration with young employees’ demands for comprehensive career planning from day one and rapid advancement. These youngsters, he suggests, prioritize their self-perception over the realities of the professional world.
This generational clash is further illustrated by the author’s reference to a newspaper article highlighting young job seekers’ aversion to traditional job postings listing skill requirements, favoring instead listings emphasizing the benefits they would receive: training, coaching, gym memberships, and frequent performance reviews. This shift in focus from requirements to perks underscores the changing dynamics of the workplace. The author and their friend, after sharing a moment of amusement, reflect on past generations of workers: individuals who stoically endured their jobs, masters of delayed gratification, seemingly content with their unchanging roles. However, the author also expresses empathy for the current generation’s concerns, acknowledging the challenges they face, especially regarding housing affordability, a stark contrast to their own generation’s experience of benefiting from a booming housing market.
The author argues that the younger generation’s “HR wish lists,” often perceived as youthful hubris, are, in fact, a healthy sign—a recalibration of the power dynamic between employee and employer. They posit that it’s reasonable to expect a sense of purpose from the place where one spends the majority of their waking hours. The author references Virgil’s ”Georgica,” specifically the phrase ”labour omnia vincit” (work conquers all), not as an endorsement of a work-obsessed lifestyle, but rather as a recognition of the inherent value and potential rewards of work. It’s a call for a transactional relationship with work, a fair exchange of effort for compensation, rather than a sacrificial offering of oneself to the corporate overlords.
The author contends that young people today have a higher degree of self-belief out of necessity, as they receive little external validation or support. They are faced with a world grappling with climate change and other global challenges, leading to widespread feelings of existential dread at a much younger age than previous generations experienced. This ”youth crisis,” as it is termed in research, mirrors the anxieties of a mid-life crisis but manifests much earlier in their lives. This precarious future fuels their desire for meaningful work, a source of stability and purpose in an uncertain world.
To illustrate the shifting perspectives on work, the author shares a personal anecdote from their early twenties, a time when they identified as somewhere between Generation X and millennial. During a job interview, they displayed a nonchalant attitude, a product of their upbringing in a relatively stable and prosperous era. When asked if they wanted the job, their casual response, ”Eh, a job’s a job,” shocked the interviewer and cost them the position. This experience, the author acknowledges, wouldn’t fly in today’s job market, demonstrating how expectations have changed. The younger generation’s insistence on meaning and purpose in their work is not a sign of entitlement but a reflection of the changing times.
The author concludes that they were wrong in their youthful indifference to work, and the younger generation is right to demand more. A job is not just a job; it’s a significant part of life, deserving of respect and a sense of purpose. This shift in perspective underscores the changing nature of work and the importance of finding fulfillment in one’s professional life. The author’s personal anecdote and reflections on generational differences offer a compelling argument for a more balanced and meaningful approach to work, one that recognizes the individual’s needs and aspirations alongside the demands of the employer. This evolving relationship between work and life is likely to continue shaping the future of the workplace.
