Getting Gen Y to talk about work and family issues
Judi Casey April 30th, 2008
Is Gen Y talking about work and family issues? I recently learned about an organization called the “Lattice Group,” a grassroots campaign that aims to engage as many young people as possible in the Unites States and Europe in a dialogue about work-life issues. This idea really strikes a cord for me. I have taught a number of undergraduate work family classes at BC, and I always ask the students how they see their work-life future. I ask them if they think they will be in a committed relationship, have a job and have children. Typically, the overwhelming majority say that they will have a committed partner, a family and a job. When I ask them how that is going to work, they get a little stuck and it is clear that they have not really thought through all the possibilities, trade-offs and challenges. It seems that it would be extremely helpful for college students to consider work and family issues prior to graduation, so they could be more purposeful in their college and post-graduation activities. Are you a Gen Y professional? How do you see your future? Not a Gen Y worker, but observe today’s Gen Yers trying to figure out how to have a family and a job? Any suggestions for them? Didn’t Cervantes say, “Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory.”
