But achieving a good work-life balance has never been more important. The retirement age is getting longer and longer, with many of us expecting to work into our early seventies. Even some of those at retirement age have now been forced back into the workforce due to rising bills, sending a clear message that workers need to look beyond whatever the official retirement age is when making retirement plans. In addition, the working day is getting longer. The Internet means that many are “always on” and can never be turned off. Job shortages in fields such as hospitality and nursing have left many workers doing the work of two or three people. Most have seen that too much seriousness at work can backfire. Online forums are full of people saying how they regretted working so hard when they were young, wishing they had spent more time on life outside of work. While in a packed house on the Tube at the weekend, I overheard a frustrated woman drunkenly asking other passengers if they were enjoying their twenties because she’s sick of her time-consuming ‘rat race’ job. People are obviously changing the way they view work and life, but that doesn’t mean jobs have gotten any easier. As the retirement age rises and working hours blur, more young people simply want to set boundaries with their employers. They don’t want to work less than their parents or grandparents, just differently. Every generation has its own struggles. Retirees will now rightfully argue that they worked hard, saved, struggled through tough years or uninspiring jobs without complaint and deserve their retirement. It is understandable that they would push back at any suggestion that they had it easy or got lucky. But there is an attitude by some who have left the workforce that those left behind are entitled and simply can’t be bothered. They can’t be bothered to save, put in the hours, go to the office, or work hard for what they want. “Surely it would be better to encourage young people to get to work and improve themselves, rather than blaming older people for taking the easy option?” A reader wrote in response to my column last week about why it’s time the Tories took on wealthy pensioners. It’s a proposal that won’t be appreciated by those who already work long hours for low pay, struggle to pay the bills or still live with their parents. With little faith in the system, some may believe they will never have the chance to retire at all. Today’s focus on work-life balance doesn’t mean young people are shy at work, just that perspectives have changed. Most still want to put in the hard graft, especially if they think their work is meaningful. What they don’t want to do is sacrifice their non-work life along the way. If they are going to work longer than any generation before them, they want to set some limits. Those who feel taken advantage of or in a toxic workplace are also much more open about it than their parents or grandparents. They don’t trust that if they keep their heads down and work hard, then riches will eventually come. Real wages are falling and home ownership is out of reach, so why not talk, buy £3 lattes or dance?
