Lattes around the table please …and can I get a massage if I work overtime?
A new study out of the UK indicates work life balance is a key component for the upcoming generation, 13-17 year olds, who intend to enter the workforce. And if they don’t get their way, they’re likely to hop on the internet and look elsewhere to explore their careers.
The study by Logicalis, a UK based international IT company, surveyed youngsters in conjunction with ClubTV.com. The company took note of the attitudes of these "Realtimers" (the so-called group of people born after 1990) on topics ranging from their expectation of their worklife future to their educational aspirations.
Here are some of the startling results:
- 81% have already thought about their worklife balance
- 75% stated an intention to work abroad at some point in their careers
- 11% would put their family before their career
- 87% claimed membership in an online community
Numerous articles published in the UK on this story, and comments from IT and HR professionals, drew the conclusion that companies must not only embrace advanced technology, but overall more flexible working strategies to retain this generation. The study might have come out of the UK, but I think it offers startling insight into what the U-S is about to encounter as well.
Workers are not going to just settle anymore. The time is coming when companies will have no choice but to give more consideration to their employee’s needs. These stats clearly indicate this generation will have more leverage to negotiate everything from salary to other company benefits. A strange world indeed.
For more insight on workplace initiatives and worklife balance head to the archives of the WorkLife Monitor Podcasts and WorkLife Minutes at JudyMartinSpeaks.com
