02nd Feb 2008
Generation X in the Workplace
Do you appreciate the human propensity to categorize everything and everyone? I hope so.
A while ago, I interviewed Lewis Richmond, author of Work as a Spiritual Practice for an article. We talked for a while about generational differences in the workplace. His point, which I refer to again and again, is that Generation X and Baby Boomers have had vastly different experiences in the workplace, and hence have developed different attitudes.
With that in mind, I’ve been working on some non-scientific categories based on stories I’ve heard about Generation X experiences in the workplace. I’m not sure what I would do with these categories, but I’m going to throw them out here.
Here’s what I have so far:
1. Everything’s fine. Why do you ask? These are folks who fit into their jobs well, do well, get promotions, are paid well, and, in general, seem content. People in this category tend to believe in the meritocracy, which is to say that if you work hard and long, you’ll be rewarded. They believe they got what they deserved based on their merit. As far as I can tell, these people don’t read my blog.
2. Everything’s not fine, but I’m trying hard. These are folks who are trying to fit into the workplace and have been laid off or fired, but keep trying, much like I keep trying to get into those size 8 jeans. People in this category may have been in the previous category and had a highly successful job until being laid-off or fired or they may have had a series of lay-offs and just keep trying. That’s really the important thing about folks in this category: they keep plugging away, believing in the meritocracy, and thinking if they just work hard enough, make the right contacts, say the right things, demonstrate their talent in some fashion, everything will work out and they’ll survive long enough to a. retire or b. quit. These people definitely read my blog.
3. Everything doesn’t work, so I’ve gone elsewhere. These are folks who have a. tried to fit into the workplace and failed or b. never tried in the first place because they just sensed they were going to get screwed. They’ve started their own businesses or non-profits or organizations of some sort. They’ve found a partner who supports them. They’ve decided to stay home with the kids or taken volunteer positions. These people also read my blog.
Any thoughts? Do you fit into one of these categories? or somewhere else?
Resources
Generation X and the Millenials
Coaching Generation X
“In My Day, Things Were Different”
Generation X’s Debt Headache
Not Your Parents’ Workplace
I’m a #3! I hope writing and (maybe?) teaching is one day in my future.
I fall under category #1. Good fortune has been a factor. Hard work and achievement alone do not guarantee promotions. In my career I’ve seen some people advance without demonstrating much of either (except that they “achieved” in deluding their superiors).
But, what you are talking about *isn’t* a meritocracy. Meritocracy means you are rewarded based on your skills and abilities, not on how long and hard you work.
http://m-w.com/dictionary/meritocracy
@Charlie Thus proving me wrong about not reading my blog!
@H Sofia Me too on a good day. On a bad day, I’m firmly in #2.
@GhostGirl I’m not sure I’m that far off that definition. In a meritocracy, there is the belief that there is a strong connection between merit and moving ahead. And merit is often (but not always) demonstrated by long hard hours of work. I think that one of the reasons people work so much in the United States is that they believe they will demonstrate their merit and consequently move ahead (or at least not lose their job). This certainly works for some people.
That may be the belief of the people who are working, but that is not the belief of management or the corporations. Perhaps this disconnect is part of the problem?
I am in the #2 camp, and long to be in the #3 camp. Years ago I got a liberal arts degree, and tried to make it as a musician. That’s a hard life. Then one day I had an opportunity dropped into my lap: go back to school for six months to become a computer programmer, with a job waiting for me at the end of it. It was a joint program between the local university and a big tech corporation. So I did that. Business school was quite a shock after my time in liberal arts. It was not at all rigorous. Asking questions was not really encouraged or appreciated. It finally dawned on me that what we needed to learn was to work long and hard at what we were told to do, without question. That is a totally different approach to education than what I was used to. Now, ten years later, I’m still in the corporate life, trying to get my work done and not get into trouble, and always hoping I’ll find a way to play more music and still support my family. Meanwhile, I try to take the workplace for what it is: a fixed game pretending to be a meritocracy. It does pay well, that’s for sure.
I think I need another category. It’s not working, but I don’t think I have it in me to get out.
I’m between #1 and #2. Most things are fine, and for the most part, my hard work and abilities have been rewarded. My present client is a pain in the…neck, but I know that I won’t have to work with this client forever–I’ll eventually have a new project and will eventually go back to working for my usual manager, once he gets a new project. I was in the #2 camp early in my career, but I think I had overly-high expectations, as a lot of my new interns seem to have when they start work in my field (architecture).
What do you think about this comic relating to liberal arts? Enjoy! Cheers!
http://www.jjcomics.com/liberal_arts_degree_and_education_cartoon_comic.htm