Orly's Opinion - Generation X

“I interviewed 5 male and female subjects from the ages 30 to 39 about work place satisfaction. This cohort is often referred to as Generation X.

So what do mid-entry, thirty something professionals look for in a work space? That's easy, a positive, team work oriented and friendly environment. Generation X strongly values the feeling of fitting in, team spirit and collective growth. One respondent even mentioned that "there's nothing worse than not evolving on all levels as an individual, a team, a unit and a company".

But when it came time for Gen-Xers to explain why they left their previous positions, only 1 of the 5 left because their environment lacked team spirit, friendliness and collective growth. The others spoke of stress, financial problems, the need for a more challenging opportunity at a position more relevant to their career. One respondent even mentioned that she left a prestigious job she loved in a hostile timeshare where she was welcomed, as a result of policy guidelines that prevented her from renewing her contract. If not for that, she would have stayed.

So does this mean Gen-Xers don't look really care about a positive, team oriented environment with close work relationships and collective growth? On the contrary, the numbers indicate that they value this strongly. The real issue is whether or not they’re willing to tolerate an unfriendly, negative environment with no team spirit if there’s room to grow individually, the position offered them enough challenge, financial satisfaction and other career-related benefits. I mean come on, let's be realistic here, there has to be some form of individual gain that out weighs an atmosphere that is socially unpleasant?