25 July 2008
Career fun begins at 50
But if you're in your 30s, maybe it's time to visit a therapist.
The Vodafone UK Working Nation report, based on findings from a survey of 3,800 people and over 20 hours of inter-generational focus groups has revealed that older workers are more likely to go to work with a spring in their step than their younger counterparts.
Those in their 30s, the report says, are suffering from a severe bout of mid-career depression.
Older
generations, enjoying a second burst of
fulfiling work-life, aren't quite ready to
shuffle off to retirement just yet.
Positive outlook comes with age
When asked about "negative feelings" regarding work, 31-35 year olds came top in every category:
- feeling undervalued (59%);
- being unfulfilled (49%); and
- being demotivated (43%).
Other results include:
- 97% of those working beyond the age of 65 felt “enabled” in their work, compared with 61% of 31-35 year olds.
- A further 70% of workers of 50 and older said they were fulfilled, compared with 50% of 31-35 year olds.
Mid-life malaise
While people in generation Y (those born after 1980) are currently fairly positive about the outlook for their working lives, they're likely to become increasingly disillusioned as they start to reach their 30s.
"The people in the
middle of their careers appear to be suffering
from a malaise of disenchantment, but
perhaps earlier than many observers
previously thought, while the older
generations, enjoying a second burst of
fulfiling work-life, aren't quite ready to
shuffle off to retirement just yet," the report says.
Those disenchanted thirtysomethings have their senior years to look forward to, though, as older people reported a "second burst" once they got through the pressures of the family life stage in their 30s and 40s.
Who'll inspire our youth?
Should there be real concern
from employers and UK government
over the apparent work-life malaise
of the mid-30s, asks the report?
Should there be real concern from employers and UK government over the apparent work-life malaise of the mid-30s?
The answer should be yes, it says, especially considering that those in their 30s and 40s are in a position to inspire those generations beneath."They should be stepping up to be managers and the primary corporate leaders of tomorrow," it says.
Communicators need to take the initiative to warn senior leaders to address this issue before the risk of an epidemic of uninspired managers becomes a reality.
Technology "corrupts"
Mark Bond, director of enterprise for Vodafone, says "People are
working faster, smarter – even greener – but
above all they want success more quickly than
ever before."
"Technology, according to most observers, is the youthful driver behind this trend – corrupting hierarchies, creating virtual work communities and changing the way that people want to communicate and collaborate," Bond says.
In her Hub article, 5 fast ways to work with Generation Y, Sarah Baker Andrus, director of Academic Programs for Vector Marketing Corporation, says of many younger employees "Technology has taught them that there's no need to wait for anything – including responses from you, their employer."
Communicate with them often, praise them for a job well done, and help them with things they need to improve. This will ensure that they don't become isolated and frustrated," Baker Andrus advises.
Older workers are bouncing back
When the Working Nation series was
launched in 2003 the first report, Young
Guns, Mature Minds, tackled the issue of
age diversity in the workplace. Most of
the findings made depressing reading.
Older workers felt undervalued and underrepresented, while younger workers felt that they had more to learn from their older colleagues – but in many cases were not provided with the right environment to do so.
Remember that technology is not the preserve of youth; educate the older users that can combine its benefits with greater experience.
As a result of the report, there were calls for companies to do more to prove the advantages of an age-balanced policy by helping the young and old work more effectively together.
Principles for employers
How can communicators create optimism in the workplace and avoid letting those moping thirtysomethings bring down the tone? The report suggests a number of points for employers to remember:
- Listen to and have empathy with employees; understand people's individual needs and circumstances.
- Provide clear opportunities for progression; clear steps upwards, including appraisals and training.
- Embrace empowerment and flexibility; allow people to be responsible.
- Provide fair pay and conditions; fair recompense is important in making employees feel valued.
- Remember that technology is not the preserve of youth; educate the older users that can combine its benefits with greater experience of "working smarter".
Creating a "World of Difference"
Other research commissioned by The Vodafone Group Foundation has revealed that 6 million workers experience low points in their jobs on a daily basis.
In response to these findings, and data that suggests many employees want to make a positive impact on the world around them but feel trapped within their jobs, the Foundation has launched the "World of Difference" project.
Find out more or even apply to take part by submitting an online application form by 31 July.
Have your say
From a rough gauge of the attitudes of your employees, would you agree with the findings? Is a large percentage of your workforce feeling undervalued, unfulfilled or demotivated? Have you had trouble persuading management to take communication training for managers seriously? How have you tackled the problem of inspiring disenchanted thirtysomething employees?
Baffled by how to engage all your different employee audiences without alienating or disengaging one sector?
Discuss these issues with other comms practitioners by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.
Other recommendations:
Understand cultural differences for clearer communication
How will tomorrow's employee behave?
Global survey shows workplace preferences of gen Y
TOP TIPS: 5 fast ways to work with Generation Y
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