The Work-Life Sync
The Work-Life Sync
Gone are the days of work-life balance. Younger generations, myself included, are perpetually plugged-in to technological devices making it almost impossible to leave work at the office. I can imagine that this balancing act becomes even trickier when you’re working from a home office and your desk is always only a room away.
For this reason, I was a little worried the first time I met Dawn and she said, “Brian and I decided to work for nonprofits and socially responsible clients because we can’t master work-life balance.” Was she admitting to being an overworked entrepreneur or cuing me in on a personal insight that would be essential for my future? At the time I wasn’t sure, but the past few weeks as an intern have revealed that it is most certainly the latter.
I have realized that BC/DC Ideas measures work-life balance differently. Instead of trying to manage the two independently, they’ve blurred the lines by infusing their job with their values.
BC/DC Ideas is a perfect example of what so many young adults are searching for in a career. The new wave of workers demands a lot from their potential employers; they believe that companies should be socially responsible. Sixty-one percent of 18- to 26-year-olds polled in a 2011 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT survey said they would prefer to work for a company that offers volunteer opportunities.
The chance to give back in an everyday work environment allows younger workers to have peace of mind. Employees today are less focused on salary and more concerned with pursuing meaningful jobs. They shy away from the workaholic mentalities of their parents and will risk job security to pursue their passions.
For some, this may mean starting a solo venture headquartered in their home’s extra bedroom. For others, it may involve a devoted job search to find a company with similar values. The process is bound to be tough either way, but fortunately times are changing.
The prevalence of the socially responsible attitude toward work is beginning to make a clear impact on the job searching process. A new kind of organization is continually developing to connect workers with jobs that make a difference as well as a salary.
ReWork and Idealist are both platforms for matching people to meaningful careers. Likewise, Greenbiz and Green Job Search highlight environmentally conscious job listings. The emergence of these types of convenient tools will likely motivate young workers to further pursue the desire for a dream job that mirrors their values.
But this trend is not a bad thing. In fact, it may prove to be beneficial for everyone since studies show that people are much more productive and healthy when they can connect their values with their work.
So, out with the work-life balance and in with the work-life sync. Find work that encompasses your values, and you won’t want to leave it behind at the office. For the generations that thrive on being constantly connected, I couldn’t think of any better option.
Recent Comments