Gen X-ers Are The Middle Child of the Corporate World
Posted by Jason on 05/20 | 09:05 AM
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Literally sandwiched in-between baby boomers and their spawns - the Gen Y, millenials or echo boomers depending on your timeline and source of reference, the Gen X-ers are the misunderstood, overlooked employees in corporations today.
There is a very interesting article on the Harvard Business Publishing website written by Tammy Erickson titled 10 Reasons Gen Xers Are Unhappy at Work. This article will resonate with many who have spent anytime working in the corporate world regardless of which generation you belong to. But as you can guess from the title it focuses on the angst of today's Gen-X workers, those born between 1965 and 1982.
I write about this article here because the bulk of the layoffs mounting on wall street will no doubt include many in this particular generation. A generation that entered the industry in a down cycle in the early 1990s and leaving during what many say is the worst economic downturn since the depression.
Many reasons on the list focus on the relationship with those above (Baby boomer managers) and those below, at least for the moment (Gen Y). Reason 5 states, "Many X’ers are charged with “managing” Y’s which – let’s face it – is an impossible task, at least if you define “manage” as controlling their channels of communication. While vying for promotions and trying to look good, many of you feel that Y’s are doing an end run around." This situation is turned on its head and made even worse when many 20-year olds arrive on wall street and due to their intellect or special skills will leap frog many up the ladder. For firms to outperform, the culture needs to be one of meritocracy where the best and brightest rise to the top but it is not without its problems.
The uncertainty of their position on the corporate org-chart is causing many to contemplate leaving the corporate world altogether, but for those working on wall street that has become an even harder choice to make in the current environment.
I think the most enlightening parts of this article are in the comments of people who have replied to it. It definitely shows the article touches on something that hasn't been spoken about much but which resonates with many regardless of which generation you identify with. Please check it out.
There is a very interesting article on the Harvard Business Publishing website written by Tammy Erickson titled 10 Reasons Gen Xers Are Unhappy at Work. This article will resonate with many who have spent anytime working in the corporate world regardless of which generation you belong to. But as you can guess from the title it focuses on the angst of today's Gen-X workers, those born between 1965 and 1982.
I write about this article here because the bulk of the layoffs mounting on wall street will no doubt include many in this particular generation. A generation that entered the industry in a down cycle in the early 1990s and leaving during what many say is the worst economic downturn since the depression.
Many reasons on the list focus on the relationship with those above (Baby boomer managers) and those below, at least for the moment (Gen Y). Reason 5 states, "Many X’ers are charged with “managing” Y’s which – let’s face it – is an impossible task, at least if you define “manage” as controlling their channels of communication. While vying for promotions and trying to look good, many of you feel that Y’s are doing an end run around." This situation is turned on its head and made even worse when many 20-year olds arrive on wall street and due to their intellect or special skills will leap frog many up the ladder. For firms to outperform, the culture needs to be one of meritocracy where the best and brightest rise to the top but it is not without its problems.
The uncertainty of their position on the corporate org-chart is causing many to contemplate leaving the corporate world altogether, but for those working on wall street that has become an even harder choice to make in the current environment.
I think the most enlightening parts of this article are in the comments of people who have replied to it. It definitely shows the article touches on something that hasn't been spoken about much but which resonates with many regardless of which generation you identify with. Please check it out.
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