What are we really asking for?

I read an article this morning on CNN.com, called: Generation Y: Too demanding at work? The article made the assertion that young folks, just out of college and entering the workforce want far too much from their employers including "better pay, a flexible work schedule and company provided Blackberrys and cell phones." 

While productivity has increased over the past 10 years, wages have stagnated while in the past 25 they have in some cases actually gone down.  The State of Working America 2006-2007 by Mishel, Bernstein & Allegretto (purchase required)  shows that in 1973, the real hourly wage for a worker with a college education was $21.00/hour.  In 2005 that wage was $24.67.  For a worker with an advanced degree the 1973 wage was $25.38 while in 2005 it was $31.49.  Even more appalling are the wages for folks without a high school education –in 1973, $12.56 and in 2005, $10.53!  A high school graduate on average made $14.39 per hour in 1973 and by 2005 that number had shrunk to $14.14.

What our parents were able to purchase with their wages in their 20’s and 30’s –and often on just one income- we are unable to obtain without going into massive debt including the cost of our education which appears to me to be a big force in keeping our real wages stagnated rather than dropping.  Additionally though many companies are covering at least some part of health care costs, deductibles, out of pocket expenses and employee contributions are steadily on the increase while health care was not a big worry to the older generation.  Last year alone the cost of a premium went up 20%! And though many companies are dealing with that staggering increase, they are balancing that with giving little to no pay increases.  So we are making less this year than last etc.

So when I read an article that complains about the “demands” of the new worker, I am angered.  Without the ability to afford and access technology, the new worker will not be able to compete.  We have limited vacation time, low starting wages and insubstantial pay increases.  It seems like we are the first generation to not “do” better than our parents.  We work longer hours for less pay.  We have massive debt entering the job market and are forced to either accept substandard healthcare or pay a large percentage of our income into a company provided benefits plan.  And health care is now mandatory to have in this state.  So what’s wrong with asking for MORE???

What’s the bright side if any to all of this?  United Way has teamed up in the largest public/private coalition in the state’s history to create a program called Skills Works that recognizes that a worker needs to make much more than the median wage of $13.00 per hour to be self sufficient.  Through our partnership with the Women’s Crittendon Union, and as part of our new initiative of venture philanthropy, you can now see how much you need to make to be self-sufficient in your city/town.  Visit Live. Work. Thrive. and click on the self-sufficiency calculator.  This tool takes into account the cost of living in your city/town, and uses state averages for health care and taxes to figure out your own particular needs.  Once you understand that figure, check out the hot jobs listing on the same page.  It lists all the jobs in the state where you can make a decent income to meet the expectations of survival.  Unfortunately, none of the jobs listed are in the non-profit world or even the corporate world.  They are generally found in healthcare and construction.

So, when a company complains that its worker want too much, I ask myself, how much are workers really asking for to live a life of self-sufficiency, comfort and dignity?  A cell phone and a blackberry seem to be a tiny price for a company to pay.  But the attitude seems to be, let them eat cake…. What's our response?