An afternoon visit to a Gen Y blog site has me looking for an antacid. Why? Smoldering resentment from the younger generation about Boomers.
- “Couldn’t they just please retire so we can get some real work done.”
- “God, they think they are always right.”
- “And then he told this story about something that happened in the 70s. Geeez, I have to put up with this?”
Believe me, I am not engaging in a discourse promoting Boomers with this crowd. So let me stick to the facts, providing a firm stance of logic and strategy so the little twerps can mull over their future.
But first, some background: Since “60 is the new 40″ (the media told us Boomers this), let it be known that we (the big bad Boomers) are feeling energized from exercise classes at Curves and feisty from the positive results of our colonoscopies. We are delighted not to chauffeur yappy kids hither and yon, appease insolence, endure those nasty “acting out” episodes or devote our Sundays to “family time” (we’d have preferred it to be quiet so we could have read a book).
And yippee for those of us who’ve been successful removing children from the payroll (and don’t tell me you didn’t hate to see that end). So with good health, time and money back, we’ve recalculated our personal and professional lives. Here’s what we’ve decided:
WE ARE NOT LEAVING THE WORKPLACE
Kids of X, Y, Z, Q and D – all of you. Did you get that?
(Please tweet this part so everyone gets it.)
Yes, we’ve conferred with our therapist. WE’RE STAYING RIGHT WHERE WE ARE.
Likely, many of you are in the vicinity of X-Y-Z-Q-and-D. As your CEO, SVP, CFO, COO, boss, colleague, direct report, owner of your favorite sushi joint or car wash, and/or cleaner of your happy little houses, we’re not off to cavort at The Villages despite its senior sex paradise reputation. (Bet you don’t want to talk about that, do you?) We’re sticking around in the modern day work habitats with you, and we’d like you to get over it.
Stop with the snide remarks about our slow driving and technology skills. Please save your breath and quit blaming us for keeping you down (and every other small thing).
Refrain from talk about us retiring. We were told we could “have it all”, and since time is no longer on our side, we’re revving up for a big finish. That means that the Kings and Queens of the 60s are be-bop-a-lula ready to swivel some more, seated quite comfortably in our ergonomically designed Knoll Bulldogs.
To help you adjust to reality:
STAT: 8,000-10,000 people turn 60 every day. We’re arriving in droves. And those over-50-somethings, they are the fastest growing segment of the workforce. Lots of old people coming.
ADVICE: Young generations, feel our love. We want to share our knowledge and experience with you.
STAT: 67% of Boomers don’t wish to retire
ADVICE: Don’t make us unhappy by shoving us toward the door. How about we work it out together?
STAT: 76% of Boomers plan to work well into (what’s that called?) “their retirement years”
ADVICE: We have an evil plan of serial careers ready to activate. You’ll do business with us everywhere.
STAT: 58% of 50-year-olds said they want a second career that would make the community a better place.
ADVICE: Help us be green and forgive us for our emissions, pesticides and for inventing Pop-Tarts.
(End of apology and P.S., we didn’t ruin this economy all by ourselves).
Broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw gave away the title, “the greatest generation any society has produced” to men and women who wanted to set aside the later years in their lives not working – their dream come true.
That leaves the rest of us – the media un-darlings- hindered by generational labels yet responsible for carving our lives out of only what we know and feel to be true. Can we work together to transform work and life in a way that has meaning for each of us? Your dream for you; mine for me?
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