Boeing strike reveals a generational shift | Employers urged to retain boomers amid workforce shifts | Understanding the difference between burnout and boreout
Boeing workers strike over wages and benefits. (Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The recent Boeing strike by 33,000 underscores a shift in perception about the company's jobs, which were once seen as secure pathways to an upper-middle-class life. Faced with rising costs and reduced benefits, workers are demanding better terms, including restored pensions and higher wage increases. The conflict highlights broader economic issues, including the impact of the Seattle tech boom on housing prices and the general decline in manufacturing job benefits across the US.
Employers are encouraged to retain baby boomers as the workforce faces a declining birth rate and flat worker replacement rate. Boomers are less stressed, more engaged and less likely to switch jobs, according to a Gallup survey, and they have become more tech-savvy, narrowing the gap with younger workers. Employers can implement mentorship programs, hands-on training and flexible schedules to retain boomers and facilitate knowledge transfer.
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With more than half of U.S. workers in a hybrid role, we sit at the crux of another work evolution. To help people leaders navigate the intricacies of hybrid work, Oyster compiled a Hybrid Handbook that outlines the benefits and challenges of hybrid work, tips for effective communication and collaboration, as well as a handy checklist to help manage all the aspects of hybrid work. Access now »
Despite a decline in C-level DEI roles, companies continue to emphasize DEI through comprehensive training. These efforts include career preparation tools, structured onboarding, and skill development to foster an inclusive environment.
US employers are anticipating a 5.8% rise in health insurance costs in 2025, driven by higher medical service costs, health care worker shortages, and increased spending on weight-loss drugs and behavioral health, a Mercer survey found. Employers are planning strategies to manage costs, such as focusing on reducing utilization by members with high-cost conditions and managing specialty drug costs.
Several major companies, including Meta, Tractor Supply, Alphabet, Lowe's and Home Depot, have recently pulled back on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, raising concerns about recruitment and retention, especially among millennials and Generation Z. MDM's Mike Hockett recently spoke to Luther Wright Jr., assistant director of client training for labor and employment firm Ogletree Deakins. Wright says HR departments are in a tough spot and recommends focusing on conflict resolution and communication.
The trolley car that hit the bus Frida Kahlo was riding on Sept. 17, 1925, likely spurred her to paint while bedridden for months, and also likely derailed her plans for what career?
I was looking for Pacific Bell memorabilia the other day. My dad worked for the company for more than 30 years and was there when the company went from being Pacific Bell to being SBC Telecom to finally what it is now, AT&T. It was a great career and it enabled Dad to provide a comfortable middle-class living for his wife and three children.
Those types of jobs are gone now, as we see in today’s top story. Reading the story brought back memories of my dad participating in strikes as his union hammered through negotiations with company representatives. Back then, workers – primarily men – fought hard for better salaries and benefits. They were the primary income earners in their families. They had to pay for groceries, mortgages, kids’ sports and college savings accounts. They believed in the American dream and worked hard to attain it.
We’re still working hard today, but that dream remains out of reach for many. The cost of living and buying a home has gone up. Pensions are largely a thing of the past. The college educations we were told we needed have strapped enormous debt to our backs.
This is reality. And it’s a tough pill to swallow. Some folks are looking to our leaders to come up with a plan to right the situation. I don’t know that I trust that.
There are no easy solutions, but I am seeing some folks bring the dream closer. I’ve watched friends and family move out of California and relocate to states like Texas, Georgia and Montana. They’re loving the space and reduced housing prices.
Others are reviewing their budgets and trimming the fat. They’re downsizing homes, selling toys they no longer use (“We never use the boat now that the kids are gone.”) and eliminating lazy spending. For sure this was a hard move to make, but those who have done it say they’re enjoying the peace of mind. Some have admitted they didn’t realize the stress they had put on themselves.
And still others changed jobs to get higher salaries. Some of these changes included relocating, but most seem to be going smoothly.
Sure, we’re in a different time in history. I don’t mean to make light of the struggle. But I have to believe it’s still possible. I have to believe that the wisdom my grandparents and parents lived by still works. My maternal grandfather, George Reimann, was frugal and prudent with his time, money and resources. Every day had an order, every dollar had a purpose and every plate was clean when you left the table. Nothing was wasted.
How will we work our way through this challenge? Press on employers for more money? That might work, in some cases. Get second and third jobs? Maybe, for a short-term solution. Doing that long-term sounds like a recipe for burnout.
I choose a different option: A return to wisdom and good habits. This will require some better awareness and discipline, but I know I'll appreciate the outcome.
How about you? How do you counsel those who see themselves falling short of the dream? Drop me a line and let me know.
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