Where are my Gen Ys at 6pm?

Dear Aunty B,

It is 6pm and I have just walked around my office and there’s not one Gen Y to be seen. We all used to work back late as we wanted to get to the top. The Gen Ys though don’t seem to care about this. Do they lack ambition? Is life after work more important? Don’t they care about impressing the boss (ie. me)?? Or did we all get it wrong in the 80s staying back late? And will they change the workforce?

In 15 years time when they are ruling the roost will the whole workplace be a dead zone after 6pm?

Confused,
St Kilda

Dear Confused,

Ahhh, you’ve transported me back to a better time. Who wouldn’t pine for the days when a bunch of smelly, hung-over men stayed back at the office, doing bugger all? Who doesn’t long for the return of The Pack, stumbling back after Friday’s 4pm swill, smoking, punching and snogging each other and finding even more excuses not to go home and bath the kids. And who could forget the poor bastards stumbling into work, stunned because the wife had up and left. Or the early heart attacks. Or the troubled kids…

It is 5.10pm on Friday and one of my Gen Ys just popped his head in the door to tell me he was leaving early to get to the market. He’s picking up some barramundi and cooking for guests. My Gen Y told me he would text me if he had any news on a few deals.

And that my friend is the point. Gen Ys walk out the door with their office in their hand, their bag and their head. They don’t turn off, so who cares where the hell they are. You say your Gen Ys work hard while they are in the office. And I am sure they work from home when they need to. So yes, let’s hope they change the workforce.

Good luck!
Your Aunty B

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