Into the future with the Y-generation

Finnish work life will be revolutionized when the new Y-generation comes to the labour market. Top-level professionals are in demand, but they are not easy or cheap workforce. Along with them, a more competitive and innovative Finland will rise from the upheaval.

– Even a dog-walking Sunday may be organized at some workplace, and if someone thinks of a fun event, it will get support from the management, says Janne Mäkeläinen from Management Events, which organizes different kinds of events for enterprises.

This is what work is like at the workplaces filled and supervised by the Y-generation. Or is it? In its latest issue, a lightly renewed Telma concentrates on how work in future, and especially workers, are a challenge to supervisors and to leadership?

The core of the Y-generation consists of young people born at the end of the ’80s and beginning of the ’90s – in other words, those who have grown amidst computers and tele-gadgets. When this generation steps into the work shoes of the large age cohorts, the traditional authoritarian supervisors will have to learn the new Y-style, as this generation is not used to being bossed around.

– A certain part of the Y-generation expects that the supervisor is there for them, and they don’t take kindly to being bossed around, says Professor Alf Rehn from Åbo Academi university.

Employers will indeed have to change their leadership culture if they want to recruit the best people. The appreciation of professionalism is illustrated by the fact that in teams that design e-games, some employees have a higher salary than their supervisors.

The sky is the limit for these top professionals, and they are not committed to anything except their own goals and aspirations. That makes them also undependable employees. The other side of the coin is nevertheless their strong motivation: work contents, the work community and the enterprise’s values are increasingly important.

Rehn as well as technology manager Tuomo Alasoini from the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovations point out that not everyone can be a guru of design, art or information technology. Ordinary workers are also needed, especially when hundreds of thousands of people will be retiring in the next few years.

– When the large age cohorts came to the labour market, it had a great impact on work life. Their leaving work life will be equally significant, says Alasoini.

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In addition to the Y-generation, Telma’s present issue explores a problematic, not much discussed topic: the effects of obesity in work life. A versatile workplace survey acquaints the reader with mobile work, and pays a visit to a funeral service establishment, as well as to the branch offices of Neste Oil all over the world. Happiness and ADHD are also on the list of topics. In his column, Tuomas Kyrö wonders how fair it would be if also men’s career advancement could be postponed by pregnancy.

For more information contact:

The Finnish Work Environment Fund: communication manager Marja-Leena Jylhä, 040 548 8852
The Centre for Occupational Safety: communication specialist Eija Åback, 040 537 1822