Millennials want a work-life balance(washingtonpost.com)
washingtonpost.com
Millennials want a work-life balance
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/millennials-want-a-work-life-balance-their-bosses-just-dont-get-why/2015/05/05/1859369e-f376-11e4-84a6-6d7c67c50db0_story.html?wprss=rss_AllWPStoriesandBlogs&tid=sm_fb
6 comments
Doesn't everyone want work-life balance? I don't think this is something restricted to millennials.
I think it's pretty easily explained in even just the fifth paragraph in: most bosses are baby boomers, with a stay at home spouse who takes care of household things (the "life" part of the balance), and they consider face time important. Most millenial couples OTOH are both working full time jobs, but willing to telecommute and have flexible hours, but are not permitted to, thereby leaving less time for the "life" part of that balance. It's basically a mismatch of perceptions and failure to understand what "work-life balance" actually means.
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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.
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.
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.
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. Of course the increase in home prices has been driven by investors and this will simply make it harder on a cohort with lower incomes and much higher levels of student debt.
It is safe to say that many more young Americans will be renting deep into their adulthood. It is also safe to say given the current cost of college that many more young Americans will be coming back home to live with mom and dad. The Fed’s findings are simply reinforcing this trend."
"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. Of course the increase in home prices has been driven by investors and this will simply make it harder on a cohort with lower incomes and much higher levels of student debt.
It is safe to say that many more young Americans will be renting deep into their adulthood. It is also safe to say given the current cost of college that many more young Americans will be coming back home to live with mom and dad. The Fed’s findings are simply reinforcing this trend."
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 :/
There is that old work hard mentality that your work ethic makes you a man in society. Below someone states men worked and women stayed at hoe to take care of the "life" part. Also in the way that many people grow up to work where their father did and much more was on you to be there working hard and have face time.
These days most companies can save money and hire more people if they allowed people to work form home or where ever they were. Most sales, leadership, tech support, software engineering, etc can be done from anywhere outside of the office with the technology these days. Computers and phones are mobile anywhere.
Companies wouldn't have to worry about getting bigger offices, facilities, cubicles, and other exenses with an office full of people.
These days most companies can save money and hire more people if they allowed people to work form home or where ever they were. Most sales, leadership, tech support, software engineering, etc can be done from anywhere outside of the office with the technology these days. Computers and phones are mobile anywhere.
Companies wouldn't have to worry about getting bigger offices, facilities, cubicles, and other exenses with an office full of people.
No; workaholics are plentiful, especially among startup founders. Some people, when asked what they would do with an extra ten non-burnt-out hours in the day, truly respond "get another ten hours of work done!"
Which is a fine attitude to have, as long as you don't impose it on others and work regulations don't cater to that choice.
We should not all be slaves for the minority of workaholics. I don't mind that you hustle, I'd rather have a beer at the beach with my wife, work 4 days a week, and lead a more simple life.
"The days are long but the years are short."
We should not all be slaves for the minority of workaholics. I don't mind that you hustle, I'd rather have a beer at the beach with my wife, work 4 days a week, and lead a more simple life.
"The days are long but the years are short."
Founders don't count as workers in my mind. For a founder, work is the hobby. No one wishes they could be working for someone else 10 more hours and plenty of people want to work on productive things in their off hours.
That's different, as they directly reap the benefits of doing that work. If I were to stay another 10 hours at my job, I would receive precisely dick, as I'm sure most of us would.
Perhaps the suggestion is the millennials are doing something about it, where previous generations didn't. It's unfortunate if they feel emigration is the only available solution.
But it's easy to say you'd like to emigrate. Actually doing so takes some dedication. Are there any statistics on that?
But it's easy to say you'd like to emigrate. Actually doing so takes some dedication. Are there any statistics on that?
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".
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".
I would really appreciate it if HN started flagging posts with "Millenials" in the title.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Please don't editorialize titles when submitting stories to HN. (Submitted title was "40% of young Americans considering emigrating due to work-life balance concerns".)
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
I don't see how quoting a statistic from the article is "editorializing"...
By editorializing we mean putting your own spin on the article or framing it a particular way for the reader. Cherry-picking one detail and making that the title is not only editorializing in this sense, it may be the most powerful form of it. If you want to say what you think is important about an article, the place to do that is in the comments, so your view is on a level playing field with everyone else's. On HN, being the one to submit an article doesn't confer any special rights to frame or interpret it for the audience.
I wouldn't regard myself as a "young American" as I have grey hair now.
But I am considering emigrating to Europe. I've lived in Italy and in France; I'd like to go back someday.
http://www.warplife.com/mdc/resume/ if you have a job for me there.
Germany would be cool too, I studied German in high school.
But I am considering emigrating to Europe. I've lived in Italy and in France; I'd like to go back someday.
http://www.warplife.com/mdc/resume/ if you have a job for me there.
Germany would be cool too, I studied German in high school.
I'm a 22yo Italian. I will move to the West Coast as soon as I can.
Healthcare and university aside, I don't understand the appeal of Italy. The air you breath here is filled with cynicism and hopelessness. The state is not business friendly. You can find history, good weather and nature in other places.
The deep south has been destroyed by mafia's garbage management. Please, read USA army's findings on Naples. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/world/europe/beneath-south...
Healthcare and university aside, I don't understand the appeal of Italy. The air you breath here is filled with cynicism and hopelessness. The state is not business friendly. You can find history, good weather and nature in other places.
The deep south has been destroyed by mafia's garbage management. Please, read USA army's findings on Naples. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/world/europe/beneath-south...
I have many fond memories of living in Formia while my father served on the USS Springfield in Gaeta. I've been to Naples many times.
I was but six years old then; it was not until many years after we returned, that my father explained the widespread corruption to me.
What I remember are beautiful young women who would toss chocolate soccer balls to me, from their apartment balconies.
I was but six years old then; it was not until many years after we returned, that my father explained the widespread corruption to me.
What I remember are beautiful young women who would toss chocolate soccer balls to me, from their apartment balconies.
"The state is not business friendly"
90% of times when people say this, they mean that business is not allowed to run roughshod over anything it wants.
90% of times when people say this, they mean that business is not allowed to run roughshod over anything it wants.
in italy this means the 5% of businesses that "unofficially sponsor" the government are allowed to run roughshod over anything they want.
Do you think there are enough tech jobs in Europe? Because I am from Europe, but studying in the US. Considering going back after I am done here, but many people say the tech scene here is a lot better.
Can only speak for Scandinavia, but there is plenty of technology work available, for both locals and anyone who speaks fluent English (it's a plus, but not necessary, to also speak a Scandinavian language). True both at "tech companies" and in many, many places in other parts of industry. For example in Denmark, Maersk (a global shipping/logistics company) hires large numbers of technologists, ranging from straightforward programming jobs, to data-science / operations research / mathematical modeling type roles. They are perhaps uniquely easy for foreigners to work for as well, because they have a workplace language policy that comes close to "English-only" (with so many global offices they really, really do not want anything in Danish, not even email chains, out of fear that it will slow down inter-office communication).
The finance industry is another traditional sector that's frequently hiring in tech. The jobs there pay well and are good for work/life balance (no overtime, not much stress), but have a reputation of being staid and boring. You might even have to wear a suit to work (I have seen this explicitly mentioned in job postings). They also tend to require at least a bachelor's degree, and look positively on an MSc.
There is a ton of freelance work as well; lots of companies, government agencies, etc. seem to be regularly in need of someone to build an app, redesign a website, build a "serious game" / "training game", analyze some data, etc., and some are even willing to pay well for it. The freelance gigs are harder for foreigners to find, though, unless they speak the language and have developed a good local network.
What there is generally less of is: 1) salaries in the $150k+ range; and 2) venture capital. But there are plenty of good normal jobs, and a small mostly-bootstrapped startup scene.
The finance industry is another traditional sector that's frequently hiring in tech. The jobs there pay well and are good for work/life balance (no overtime, not much stress), but have a reputation of being staid and boring. You might even have to wear a suit to work (I have seen this explicitly mentioned in job postings). They also tend to require at least a bachelor's degree, and look positively on an MSc.
There is a ton of freelance work as well; lots of companies, government agencies, etc. seem to be regularly in need of someone to build an app, redesign a website, build a "serious game" / "training game", analyze some data, etc., and some are even willing to pay well for it. The freelance gigs are harder for foreigners to find, though, unless they speak the language and have developed a good local network.
What there is generally less of is: 1) salaries in the $150k+ range; and 2) venture capital. But there are plenty of good normal jobs, and a small mostly-bootstrapped startup scene.
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.
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.
So if someone was interested in a job in that area, would you simply suggest applying through their websites? Should I update my location on LinkedIn and wait for recruiters (if that's big there)?
I haven't actually posted any Scandinavian companies yet, but over the weekend I'll post a few at http://www.warplife.com/jobs/computer/
I just looked at the LibreOffice spreadsheets that I've been collecting these in, I have five for Sweden, one each for Norway and Denmark. Of course there are many more that I could list but do not yet know about.
I just looked at the LibreOffice spreadsheets that I've been collecting these in, I have five for Sweden, one each for Norway and Denmark. Of course there are many more that I could list but do not yet know about.
Just go via websites, travel to few conferences and you're all set.
"better" here in the sense that there are more startups in the US. I'm not so sure there are more openings in the US; my sense is that Europe has just as many well-established companies.
It is uncommon for startups to succeed.
It is uncommon for startups to succeed.
I guess the salary is also lower in Europe, but the life in general is better even if you make less compared to the US.
Work remotely. Decouple your salary from your location.
https://github.com/lukasz-madon/awesome-remote-job
https://github.com/lukasz-madon/awesome-remote-job
I've done too much remote work. It can get very lonely.
What I'd like is to go into an office, and have coworkers. It's not about creating killer apps by the water cooler; it's about having the company of other human beings in my workplace.
I do apply to some remote gigs, but only a very few. What I'd really like is to work in Portland, Oregon.
What I'd like is to go into an office, and have coworkers. It's not about creating killer apps by the water cooler; it's about having the company of other human beings in my workplace.
I do apply to some remote gigs, but only a very few. What I'd really like is to work in Portland, Oregon.
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 headlines, because they are in trouble. I.e. as long as you move to a well-functioning, growing country the outlook is great.
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 headlines, because they are in trouble. I.e. as long as you move to a well-functioning, growing country the outlook is great.
I have a close friend here in the US who is a Swedish immigrant and a web designer. Maybe she has some connections I could use.
My hesitation in applying to work in Northern Europe is that I lived in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia when I was married to a Canadian woman. I'm not real sure I have the temerity to face all that snow again. :-/
My hesitation in applying to work in Northern Europe is that I lived in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia when I was married to a Canadian woman. I'm not real sure I have the temerity to face all that snow again. :-/
There's typically very little snow in the tech hubs of Scandinavia (Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Gothenburg and Malmo) even in the midst of winter. If snow is your biggest concern then moving here shouldn't be an issue ;).
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