Comments on: Technology and generational change

By: Little Shiva

Little Shiva — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:58:16 +0000

I’m part of the nomadic workforce. Freelance image and design from a home-office or wherever I happen to be with an internet connection or a post office is something I’ve been doing for the majority of my working life, and I like it like that. I graduated from Parsons NYC in 1986, worked in Manhattan until 1999, then moved to Charlotte, NC. Had a job for a while in an office, but when they laid people off they gave me a computer and told me to freelance from home until they could find a way to bring me back, if I wanted to come back. Well, I really prefer working from home, so that’s how that evolved. I’m good at managing my own time, I have no commute or co-worker distractions, and can shut myself off and get in the zone at any time of the day or night that suits me. Now that I’ve moved to Belgium, my only challenge is networking and finding new clients over here, and navigating their employment laws. For example, I don’t think you can just hang out your shingle here like you can in the States, you have to declare yourself independent and pay into the system. Still researching the possibilities.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:06:58 +0000

Thanks for the comment Elizabeth. I would expect that a European-owned company would only bring over European values if most of the management and human resource direction also came from Europe. Chances are in your case it was Americans who had gained their management philosophy from other American companies.

Because of the labor surplus of the past 30+ years, American employers (and those in many countries) have often had the luxury of substituting a higher number of people for more productive people or a more productive environment. Working sick is presumably less productive. Being burned out is also less productive. So, you can either offer a healthier workplace, or hire more people.

In Europe lower fertility rates have meant that the labor shortage in many industries hit sooner than in America, hence the need to ensure each employee can work more productively. Also, companies have to compete for the best and brightest.

By: Elizabeth M

Elizabeth M — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:48:28 +0000

The gap I once experienced was along different lines…

One of my former jobs was for a U.S. company with European roots. I must admit, I was naive enough to think that working for such a place would garner me some perks – after all, some of those Europeans take several-week vacations every year. Their quality of life of is considered quite important to their employers. Without question, some relaxation time and mental health days are of utmost importance. Surely this mentality would translate, right?

Not in the States. The company I worked for would rather you come to work with the plague than actually miss a meeting (otherwise you would be doubted for faking an ailment). Is that what the American dream is? To work until your fingers bleed from typing? To be doubted so much that you feel guilty if you take a day off?