Archive: April 2021

May 3-7 has been declared Youth Employment Week in BC, so we thought we would revisit a paradigm about young workers that just wont go away.

We’ve heard many comments about the “culture of entitlement”, but we wanted to question the level of truth to this popular opinion.  

Is it possible that young people view their work differently than those in the Baby Boomer Generation?

Studies show that millennial workers are looking for more from their employment than just the pay cheque.  

• The millennial worker is looking for meaning, opportunity for development, and guidance from those who have gone before them.  
• From a BOSS a millennial is looking for help navigating their career path through coaching and mentoring,
• From the COMPANY a millennial is looking for integrity, flexibility, and a respect for worklife balance,
• A millennial wants to learn: technical skills needed in their field, how to be a leader, and industry knowledge.

The challenge for those of us from another generation who are tasked with managing these workers, is changing ourselves and the way we manage.  

We have an obligation to the next generation to help them be the best that they can be on the job.

A good employer will establish mentorship programs for these workers, and will provide useful feedback and opportunities to learn and improve. 

It is the responsibility of the prior generation to ensure the next generation is ready to carry the torch. 

This doesn’t mean “trial by fire” as was the disciplinary style of the prior generations. 

This means, understanding the workforce, its new motivations and adapting and leaning into their strengths and their development. 

This requires work on the part of the prior generation who are likely the CEO’s, the top Executives and the Supervisors.  Be better and do the work that is needed, everyone will be rewarded with dedicated, capable, and  creative workers

Remember when you are old and vulnerable, this generation is moving the world.  Set them up right.

This requires us allowing them to change the workplace as well. 

Read more from Gallup and INC.  

http://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/working-with-millennials-gallup-says-everything-you-think-you-know-is-wrong.html

A few years back I read a book called “Designing Your Life“.  Chapter 2 in this book, which is filled with activities, encourages the reader to contemplate the Why? question of work.  Why Work?  This small activity turned into my own personal manifesto of work (I committed to the project :-)).  I examined the logical reasons for working, paying the bills and I examined the philosophical reasons such as a sense of accomplishment, contributing to economy and everything in between.

It is really quite an impressive document, if I could say so, because it was a deep dive into what motivates me to get up every day as I have for the last 22 years, and report for duty at the Princeton Skills Centre/WorkBC Employment Centre.  

I am acutely interested in the study of worker Motivation.  Why can one person engage wholly in their activities, where another person struggles to be engaged in even the easiest of things.  Time and time again, I hear people indicate that they get “bored” with jobs easily and then tend to leave that job once the “spark” is gone.  What a tremendous loss to a company, who loses a worker once they become competent!

Daniel Pink is his book “Drive” indicated a third drive of motivation (1 & 2 are Survival & Reward) and that 3rd drive was the performance of the task alone.  Workers can find motivation and gratification because the joy of the task was its own reward.  Designing jobs and workplace culture for interest are a challenge for Employers, Being Curious about Work to sustain interest is the challenge for workers.  

For the last few weeks in the WorkBC resource centre, we have been astounded by the sheer volume of jobs that are available in Princeton, RIGHT NOW.  Princeton Job Market is very hot, Employers are needing workers, and workers have OPTIONS.  I have contemplated the impact on an employer who can not find workers to sustain their business and believe this is a serious issue.  Herein, I believe lies an important part of the answer to the WHY WORK question.  Because the economy needs you to.

A part of economic growth, and right now, economic recovery, is ensuring that all those who can participate in the labour market, DO PARTICIPATE IN THE LABOUR MARKET.  If you can work, you should.  Business needs you.