Click here for a very interesting article on the theory of "Gen Y" law associates. (Born 1978 or later).
Posted by Lawren at March 4, 2005 06:22 AM
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Umm...I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing that I was born in 1977 ;)
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Kelly P. at March 4, 2005 07:24 AM
Strangely enough many of the same things were said about Gen X workers when we first starting entering the workforce in mass quantities.
The younger generation is nothing but a bunch of slackers and cynics ;-)
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Brian D. at March 4, 2005 08:20 AM
BigLaw, as they like to call themselves out here, can kiss my ass. What they don't realize is that some people actually want to have lives outside the office, want to be able to see their families, and want to be able to spend some of the money they're paid once in awhile.
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Iceman at March 4, 2005 08:33 AM
So go work at Wal-Mart if you want all of that...
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The Seventh Son at March 4, 2005 10:03 AM
I think its a change for the better and can only improve the image of lawyers.
By the way - its a beautiful Friday at 1:00pm and I'm out the door to play some golf....
I guess its true what they say
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Dave at March 4, 2005 12:55 PM
If you think only Wal-Mart employees (or those on that level) can acquire such essentials in life, perhaps you should get an education.
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Iceman at March 4, 2005 01:26 PM
I have an education and lots of clients who pay me a lot of their hard-earned money to get their work done expeditiously...
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The Seventh Son at March 4, 2005 01:56 PM
Yes it is important to get work done quickly for clients. Yes it is important for BIGLAW firms, or any other firm, to get good return on investment from the new associates.
However, societal attitudes have been changing the past 20 years. Gen X and Gen Y saw their parents who worked hard get fired and laid off all the time. The era of having a job with one company died in the 80s and 90s. The realistic expectation of keeping a good job forever also died during that time.
The workaholic hours that many people put in proved nothing was safe. Is it any wonder the younger generations believe that there is more to life than work? Is it wrong to desire to have a more balanced work/personal life than the completely skewed powerlives that our parents had? No one has ever been near their deathbed proclaiming they should have put more hours in at the office.
Our society is the most productive in the world, yet we take the least vacation time of all. Many take laptops and files with them on vacation. To be a healthy worker and human being you need more balance. Having money isn't everything if you never have the time to enjoy it.
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Brian D. at March 4, 2005 03:10 PM
Unfortunately, if the Gen "Ys" worked as hard as they bitch about working, they would be walking out the door everyday by 4pm with all of their work done in full...
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The Seventh Son at March 4, 2005 03:14 PM
I'm sorry Seventh, but I think you're missing the point.
The point isn't that Gen Y doesn't want to work hard. The point is they have a value system that says there is more than hard work in life.
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Brian D. at March 4, 2005 05:07 PM
Of course there is more than hard work...but I haven't seen many Gen Ys work hard...they only thing they do is BITCH hard about working
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The Seventh Son at March 4, 2005 05:31 PM
I am always leery of steotyping, but do sense a slight difference in the approach taken by the newest members of the professional class. I agree that societal influences and broader exposure to the harsh realities of life have somewhat dampened the desire of younger workers to buy into the 'company store'.
However---a survey of 4000 with only 800 respondents hardly presents the sort of empirical evidence necessary to establish the point the article is trying to make (and cewrtainly not what Seventh is reading into it). Granted, it is better than the purely anecdotal type of material presented in this forum, but I am far from convinced that Gen Y-ers are somehow lazy or unwilling to work. It simply is not reflective of myself or most of my peers, all of whom are willing to put the shoulder to wheel whenever necessary. I for one put in riduculous hours between 2 jobs, an externship, and law school---and there are plenty others who perform similarly herculean tasks. What really distinguishes gen yers is that we have recognized the BS that is most of corporate america, but we are willing to use it for ourselves instead of getting used by the system. It is not about laziness or a lack of desire to succeed, it is just a different sort of success sought. Thus we are willing to go out and work our asses off----but it is all with the eye on a higher prize (whether it be family, travelling, golf or whatever else motivates us) rather than the work for its own sake.
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Ren at March 6, 2005 01:12 PM
BTW--I am at the office right now (sunday afternoon) so I can free up some time later in the week for something else. Again---how is it that people think we are lazy?
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ren at March 6, 2005 01:14 PM