The youth of today want to live and work in big cities. Yes! I agree.
The priorities of young professionals is very different from that of a middle/senior. Often for young professionals, it is quicker, faster ways to make money, learn and grow.
Loyalty is not something on top of their mind at this point in time.
When professionals young/old, work in an environment with limitless opportunities around them (often big cities), it is unfair to keep them from exploring these opportunities. This means retention becomes a very big challenge for the talent development teams. Employee attrition will be high.
While people are increasingly moving to live and work in cities, many are doing to not by choice but because that's where the opportunities are. Sad but true. I learnt from my Chinese colleague that a middle class person cannot THINK/DREAM of owing an apartment in Shanghai in his lifetime.
Being from Bangalore, I know first hand the kind of urban sprawl happening - colleagues spend several hours on the roads stuck in traffic everyday to commute to office and back. Leaving no time for them to do anything else.
I know my friends and colleagues in Bangalore who are desperately trying to squeeze some time out and seeking that BALANCE in their life so the do not get enslaved to their jobs.
I can speak confidently about this situation in Bangalore but I wont be surprised if this is the case with most people who live and work in the big/mega cities of the emerging markets.
(Owing to the mess India is in currently, will we tend to loose out on this race despite having the youngest population?)
The youth that are today choosing to live and work in cities wont remain youth forever. Someday they will decide to 'settle' down and I know most often in this phase, the priorities tend to shift towards owing a house, raise kids, live close to the kids school, get time to spend with the family etc.
I am not sure how many cities in the world can really offer this (there may be some exceptions). (This is what I found pleasantly surprising and appreciative of Germany - people had the choice to live in smaller towns and yet have good job opportunities)
I am surprised and disappointed that corporates have not found a way to successfully integrate the demographics of young and old more successfully. So much for diversity eh? Diversity isn't restricted to song and dance, food and clothes. It is meant to respect all aspects of differences without being judgemental about them.
The priorities of young professionals is very different from that of a middle/senior. Often for young professionals, it is quicker, faster ways to make money, learn and grow.
Loyalty is not something on top of their mind at this point in time.
- So, in todays world, what role does loyalty play?
When professionals young/old, work in an environment with limitless opportunities around them (often big cities), it is unfair to keep them from exploring these opportunities. This means retention becomes a very big challenge for the talent development teams. Employee attrition will be high.
- So, can we stop complaining about the 'investments' made to train people and simply accept that they will leave regardless? Or do we now get bonds signed?
- What innovations are the talent development teams going to come up with retain the best talents? Because we all know that its the best talent that tends to leave first.
While people are increasingly moving to live and work in cities, many are doing to not by choice but because that's where the opportunities are. Sad but true. I learnt from my Chinese colleague that a middle class person cannot THINK/DREAM of owing an apartment in Shanghai in his lifetime.
Being from Bangalore, I know first hand the kind of urban sprawl happening - colleagues spend several hours on the roads stuck in traffic everyday to commute to office and back. Leaving no time for them to do anything else.
I know my friends and colleagues in Bangalore who are desperately trying to squeeze some time out and seeking that BALANCE in their life so the do not get enslaved to their jobs.
I can speak confidently about this situation in Bangalore but I wont be surprised if this is the case with most people who live and work in the big/mega cities of the emerging markets.
(Owing to the mess India is in currently, will we tend to loose out on this race despite having the youngest population?)
The youth that are today choosing to live and work in cities wont remain youth forever. Someday they will decide to 'settle' down and I know most often in this phase, the priorities tend to shift towards owing a house, raise kids, live close to the kids school, get time to spend with the family etc.
I am not sure how many cities in the world can really offer this (there may be some exceptions). (This is what I found pleasantly surprising and appreciative of Germany - people had the choice to live in smaller towns and yet have good job opportunities)
- So, what happens to the favourite 'work life balance' jargon that we keep hearing about at almost every employer of choice surveys?
I am surprised and disappointed that corporates have not found a way to successfully integrate the demographics of young and old more successfully. So much for diversity eh? Diversity isn't restricted to song and dance, food and clothes. It is meant to respect all aspects of differences without being judgemental about them.
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