It’s no surprise that throughout the pandemic, many young people reconsidered their lives, especially when it comes to their careers and where their valuable time is spent. Between finding an appropriate work-life balance, becoming digital nomads, and wanting to experience life to the fullest while working for what they love, Millennials and Gen Z are redefining their lives and what it means to be successful.
In a recent survey, 67% of job seekers said they were likely or very likely to change jobs within the next year, so it’s apparent that many nowadays are not afraid to shake it up and move elsewhere for meaningful and rewarding positions that give them the work-life balance that they desire.
Finding work-life balance
Once many jobs turned remote at the onset of the pandemic, younger workers really began to notice the amount of time that was spent sitting at a desk staring at a screen. With the flashy buildings, office perks, and regular socializing out of the picture, many found themselves working even longer hours, without any additional benefits.
With work life and home life seeming to blend together for many remote workers, it became a priority, especially for Millennials and Gen Z, to strike the proper work-life balance, and set boundaries for themselves when it came to working hours and personal time.
Since then, many young people in the workforce have realized that greater flexibility with their workplace duties helps them find the balance between their work life and their personal lives. Going against the grain, Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to request days off for mental health reasons, advocate for themselves to work fewer hours if they’re accomplishing all their tasks, and overall prioritize their personal lives in a pursuit to be less overworked than the generations before them.
Digital nomad life
With the increase in remote work, many people in the Millennial and Gen Z generations are experiencing location freedom and choosing to stay mobile even as offices are re-opening and things are returning to some semblance of normalcy. Once they got into the groove of working at home, it was easier for these workers to set their own schedules, work from anywhere, and overall enjoy a better work-life balance.
So, remote working doesn’t mean you have to complete your duties from the corner of your bedroom–many are beginning to realize they can work from anywhere around the globe just as well, and are embracing life as a digital nomad. Just in 2020 alone, the number of digital nomads in the United States grew nearly 50%!
Being able to move around the country, or even the world, experiencing new places and new cultures while still accomplishing all their professional responsibilities, the younger generations are redefining what it means to hold down a job without being stuck in one place. And as housing costs continue to skyrocket in many of the major metropolitan areas, it’s no surprise why younger workers are ditching their year-long leases and taking their lives on the road.
Doing meaningful work
Going along with the themes we’ve discussed so far, Millennials and Gen Z recognize that they can redefine what work looks like to them, especially in light of the pandemic that has altered our world permanently in recent years. So in the quest for better work-life balance, many have realized that they would prefer to put their hard work into meaningful and worthwhile causes.
They want to feel like more than a headcount in the office; rather, they prioritize work that is exciting, and that they don’t dread doing each day. They are more likely to leave unrewarding positions or environments where they feel undervalued, instead, they’re looking for jobs where they feel respected and heard. Along with this, many are embracing increased diversity and inclusion in the workplace and often look for elements of this when job seeking.
Where things are headed
With these trends in mind and considering the Great Resignation that’s been occurring over much of the past year, Millennial and Gen Z workers have leverage when it comes to their job-hunting and negotiating. So, companies need to discover ways to attract the younger generations to come work for them–and then focus on keeping them.
Proposing an async work environment (allowing employees to complete their job duties on their own time), offering more generous paid time off, greater salary transparency, and open dialogue between workers and their superiors are all ways that companies can serve their younger workforce in a more meaningful way. Chances are the height of the Great Resignation has nearly passed, though these core values that the Millennials and Gen Z have garnered during this time will endure for the years to come.
So as the younger generations today set out to personalize the work experience and live life to the fullest, finding joy in experiences and exploring new locations is at the forefront of their lives. With Rush49, you can discover new and unique events, the hottest locations, and the latest trends to partake in that will help you make memories and keep your pulse on what’s new in your area.
