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Millennials want a work-life balance

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#41

Post by AndrewKemendo »

If I was in a job I hated and had to do it to live, then that is one thing, in which case I would try to spend as little time working as possible. I think most people are in this situation, so it makes sense in that regard.

As a general ethos though, I don't get it. I don't want to be doing something that doesn't fully engage me. I quit my cushy government job last year to go full in on our startup and while the hours are something like 12-15 hour days, it doesn't feel like work most of the time. So in this sense I don't really get the idea of "work-life balance" because the work I am doing is what I want my life to be.

It seems like the idea of having your "life's work" is a luxury or alternatively something that slightly insane people have. In the cases where it works and the vision is big enough you get these outsized figures who do amazing things. Why anyone would choose otherwise - I don't really understand.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#42

Post by Sharlin »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #41

If I was in a job I hated and had to do it to live, then that is one thing, in which case I would try to spend as little time working as possible. I think most people are in this situation, so it makes sense in that regard. As a general ethos though, I don't get it. I don't want to be doing something that doesn't fully engage me. I quit my cushy government job last year to go full in on our startup and while the hour…

There's a continuum of positions between "hating your job" and "living and breathing your job". Many of us like our jobs very much thank you, but we also have other things we want to do. Besides, not everybody can be productive doing something 12 hours a day (or even 8!) even if we love it when we do. I love dancing but I still only do it a few hours per week. You should try not to generalize from a single point of data (yourself).

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#43

Post by AndrewKemendo »

Sharlin wrote: post #42
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #41

If I was in a job I hated and had to do it to live, then that is one thing, in which case I would try to spend as little time working as possible. I think most people are in this situation, so it makes sense in that regard. As a general ethos though, I don't get it. I don't want to be doing something that doesn't fully engage me. I quit my cushy government job last year to go full in on our startup and while the hour…

There's a continuum of positions between "hating your job" and "living and breathing your job". Many of us like our jobs very much thank you, but we also have other things we want to do. Besides, not everybody can be productive doing something 12 hours a day (or even 8!) even if we love it when we do. I love dancing but I still only do it a few hours per week. You should try not to generalize from a single point of d…

No generalization, I'm simply stating that I don't understand it. Agree with you however that the desire to work is probably normally distributed.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#44

Post by km3k »

IndianAstronaut wrote: post #39
chrisper wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, salaries here are $150k+ because the cost-of-living is crazy. I think even if you make less in Europe you have a better life in general.

>salaries here are $150k+ because the cost-of-living is crazy This strikes me as unsustainable. A lot of the basic services will deteriorate quickly since those providing them cannot afford accommodation.

Most of the US doesn't have super-high cost-of-living and $150k+ salaries. Just the biggest cities do. Remember, the US is HUGE.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#45

Post by ubertaco »

jonawesomegreen wrote: post #6

Doesn't everyone want work-life balance? I don't think this is something restricted to millennials.

Agreed.

Also: I'm gonna go ahead and say that statements about what "Millennials" want/do/buy/are/read/smell/eat/whatever are about as dumb as any other kind of blanket statement.

The only consistent parts of the various definitions of "millennials" I've heard are "human" and "younger than the person making the claim".

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#46

Post by sopooneo »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #38
ekanes wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did the housing crisis affect millenials?

http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/why-millennials-stuck-at-... "The homeownership rate of the 30 year old cohort has tanked starting in 2007 with the market implosion. That is very clearly illustrated by the green line above. Why? These were the folks buying with toxic mortgages and timed the market very poorly (or simply had bad luck). The rate of those young adults living at home has gone up unabated since 1999. O…

It's a shame that "living with mom and dad" is taken as failure in the US. If the situation could be a happy one, it seems like a nice way to do things.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#47

Post by toomuchtodo »

sopooneo wrote: post #46
toomuchtodo wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/why-millennials-stuck-at-... "The homeownership rate of the 30 year old cohort has tanked starting in 2007 with the market implosion. That is very clearly illustrated by the green line above. Why? These were the folks buying with toxic mortgages and timed the market very poorly (or simply had bad luck). The rate of those young adults living at home has gone up unabated since 1999. O…

It's a shame that "living with mom and dad" is taken as failure in the US. If the situation could be a happy one, it seems like a nice way to do things.

Cultural norms take time to change :/

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#48

Post by __xtrimsky »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #14
jonawesomegreen wrote: post #6

Doesn't everyone want work-life balance? I don't think this is something restricted to millennials.

Baby Boomers lived through the most prosperous period in American history. They have roots. They're tied to the US. Millennials have gotten shit on repeatedly, between the housing crisis, the student loan crisis (looming), and a subpar job market. They have less ties and more mobility.

As a Millennial with a 2200 sqft house, a job and no student loans I don't feel the same way.

But I guess in some way I was lucky (no student loans because I studied in an international school, which was much cheaper). And housing because I moved to a cheap area and telecommute to a company in Silicon Valley.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#49

Post by toomuchtodo »

__xtrimsky wrote: post #48
toomuchtodo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Baby Boomers lived through the most prosperous period in American history. They have roots. They're tied to the US. Millennials have gotten shit on repeatedly, between the housing crisis, the student loan crisis (looming), and a subpar job market. They have less ties and more mobility.

As a Millennial with a 2200 sqft house, a job and no student loans I don't feel the same way. But I guess in some way I was lucky (no student loans because I studied in an international school, which was much cheaper). And housing because I moved to a cheap area and telecommute to a company in Silicon Valley.

We in the tech industry are outliers.

Re: Millennials want a work-life balance

#50

Post by sandstrom »

chrisper wrote: post #36
sandstrom wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a huge shortage in the nordic countries. Quite a lot of people move here (1/4 or more in some companies are from abroad). If you speak good english you'll get by easily. There is a social benefit to learning the local language, but not necessary for getting hired (i.e. no need to know the language in advance). I think northern European countries are doing pretty well, but the southern ones get most of the he…

Do you mean shortage in jobs or shortage in workers?

Shortage in skilled workers [tech sector; software]
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