I Want A Job But I Don’t Want The Hours

(Photo by Monika Graff/Getty Images)

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Does that title sound like anyone you know? These are the people who would ask about how much time off would I get to ski at a job interview.

How will the workforce evolve in the years to come? Here are a few ideas of what I think worker options will look like.

What Is My Labor Worth To Me?

Usually workers tend to think about their worth to an employer. Can I sell my skills and experience to someone for enough money to make a comfortable living? Depending on those skills and experience most people can.

Those with few skills or low levels of education are going to have a bigger challenge as they go through life.

How Do You Want To Be Paid?

Most people would probably say that they would trade an hour of work for a specified dollar amount. Any hours over the agreed amount will command more than the specified dollar amount.

What if I don’t want to be paid in money? What if there is something that has more value to me than money?

If you’re not paid in money then how will you live? Some younger people are more than willing to work for less — if they are paid in more time off from work.

Time to ski, go to the beach, hunt, hike trails, or spend time with friends. For these people —time IS money.

Time is a commodity equally important to money for some workers.

No one is going to work for free, but there are those who are more than willing to compromise on dollars vs. time.

If you don’t need a flashy car, the big house, and the designer duds, many younger people can live comfortably by trading lower pay for time off.

Pleasure vs. Material Possessions

Which is more important? The $1,500 a month house payment, $550 a month car payment, or driving a used, paid for car, and living with roommates in an affordable apartment?

Which sounds like they would be experiencing the better life? Which sounds like they would have more cash after all the bills are paid?

Future Work Force

This is the future workforce of America. Those who grew up during the “everybody gets a trophy” generation. Money verses less stress and more time to do satisfying things will dictate tomorrow’s worker.

These are the people who watched their parents trade a happy fulfilling life using a job and credit cards to produce material things.

Whoever has the most toys wins generation. A sort of scorecard to success.

The big house, the big screen TV in every room, the big RV, the nice car, the boat, Jet Ski, summer home, and living from paycheck to paycheck trying to keep up with their creditors.

All the while trying to convince themselves and others what a wonderful life they were living. How lucky they are to be able to afford so many “nice things.”

The Definition of Rich

The poster child for these future non-material workers is Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook. Multi-billionaire yet lives very modestly.

No big mansion, no servants, no swimming pool or tennis courts, he and his wife grow some of their own food, no big fancy cars or clothes.

In their case billions doesn’t buy the material happiness it buys for others. For them simple is better. Less is more.

Some Final Thoughts

Tomorrow’s worker is going to place less emphasis on accumulating wealth and place more emphasis on what is really important to them.

The practice of “buying” workers with dollars is quickly coming to an end. Future generations are going to be happier with less material things and more emotional and pleasurable fulfillment.

Future employers are going to have to make some drastic changes in how the employer, employee, relationship will evolve in terms of employee production.

Perks will carry more value than bucks for a growing segment of future society. Most of their lives they have been told the rich are bad, they are dishonest, they are greedy and only out for the buck.

They don’t want to be painted with that negative brush.