The Sandwich Generation Faces Career Woes
Generation X needs to gain back some control
In the last four months I have been keeping better track of conversations with my network and with clients. I have made a commitment to what some may call ‘micro journaling.’ I take time every day to write down a few sentences about the previous day. Some of what I’ve written down is focused on me and my life, but some is tracking how I felt after conversations with friends, clients, etc. The activity has been beneficial in that it has opened my eyes to what time I spend focusing on what is in and out of my control. By focusing less on what is out of my control, I can be more productive and in a sense happier.
This is not a post about micro journaling, but it is a post about what looking back on my first months of micro journaling is telling me about my generation. I’m a GenXer and what I’m seeing is a generation of people who are struggling to come to terms with lack of control. We are the generation who were raised by The Silent Generation and older Boomers, have hovered over our younger millennials children and empowered GenZ kiddos to break the norms. We have found ourselves in what is being labeled the “Sandwich Generation” - one where we are caring for our aging parents and still highly involved in the lives of our children.
Before I get too far into this - not all of us have children. And not all of us still have parents in our lives. However, for whatever the reason, Generation X is firmly in ‘the middle’. We are the largest percentage of the workforce, but we are also less likely to be in senior positions. Firmly in the middle of our workplace and home-life, we found our ways to places that gave us purpose outside of these worlds - running clubs, community volunteerism, paint bars, whatever we can do to get our minds off of the world that is running us … where we have little to no control. When faced with a sick parent, we must respond. When supporting a child or sibling with extra needs and struggles, we are there. For those of us who are the elders of the generation, we grew up largely on our own, with two parents working and our after school responsibilities of getting ourselves fed, homework done and possibly some chores. We know how to be independent, and like our grandparents, we saw the value in work, and felt that the workplace would be where our lives would find meaning.
As a look back on my micro journaling, one conversation stands out - a GenXer who has accumulated nearly 20 years of seniority at their current institution and is 10 years from retirement was looking to leave their institution. They had a difficult couple of years managing personal and family illnesses, the impact of the pandemic on their world of work, and when faced with the opportunity to apply for a promotion at their workplace decided that the tea leaves were not in their favor. “My boss sees me in my current role, and there is little to no way to make them see me otherwise.” …. Whew. Their observations were raw and real and the lack of control that they felt rang out in their words.
It was then that I pressed them - why not leave the department but not the institution? You have built up strong relationships and good will around campus - not to mention the value of your benefits which have accumulated over time? While you have no control over the health of your family, the stressors of the world around you, you can take some control and apply to change jobs at the institution. Why leave when you can spend your last decade in a new department at an institution you seem to believe in and feel a part of? Strong mid-level managers are necessary to the inner workings of the institution, and if you sell yourself as one, a new opportunity at a place you are comfortable with may very well manifest itself sooner than you think.
For this individual it was as if a switch was thrown and they were on their way of taking back some control while the rest of their lives continued to play out in ways that were not ideal, but allowed for them to see personal opportunities where just 24 hours before, none existed. I truly believe that there are times in our lives when a simple act of changing your view will help you build a new perspective on the opportunities that are available to us. There is no better way to feel in control than when you take action and start seeing yourself in a new situation.
It is time for the Sandwich Generation to take back some control of our lives and create meaning for ourselves.
Fortify Features
Dr. Laura De Veau is Principal & Founder of Fortify Associates, LLC. Fortify Associates, LLC is unique in the higher education, not-for-profit, and public service market. They provide comprehensive workshops, program reviews and project management services with a combination of in-person and virtual delivery. Fortify Associates is committed to creating experiences that are unique to the needs and culture of each of their clients. Fortify Associates wants to elevate your organization and help you optimize your workplace. As a Predictive Index partner, Fortify can leverage the power of PI with the knowledge and talent of the Fortify team to create a truly unique set of offerings. Contact Dr. De Veau