Please, take a seat
Image by Scott Ballew
Corporate Social Responsibility
09.11.2008
I’m 22 – 29-years-old, college educated. I’ve most likely spent some time abroad, loved it and may quit my job on the spur of the moment to travel some more. I may have a tattoo and, if I don’t, I probably want one. Technology is easy for me, and I really can’t understand how it isn’t for you. I don’t like to be called “Gen Y, millennial or bud.” You should know my name regardless of your age or stature.
I probably look different than you.
I have more electronic equipment on me right now than a robot and am constantly connected to what is going on in the world.
Now, tell me a little something about what you have to offer.
Oh, a gracious 401(k). Yeah, that is pretty standard and retirement might as well be a million years away. What are your feelings about the Kyoto Protocol, carbon offsets and the emerging carbon market?
Wow, health insurance. I’ve pretty much always had that and don’t really care about it that much. Haven’t you heard? I’m kind of invincible. How much money do you give to Oxfam, the ONE Campaign for Africa or (RED) to help those in the third world receive adequate healthcare?
So, I can have three weeks off a year. How much time out of my day can I devote to writing on my blog about the inadequate treatment of individuals around the world?
Well, I have several interviews today, and I appreciate your time. I’ll let you know.
In today’s competitive talent market, every company should not only be prepared to answer the questions most important to the members of Gen Y, but should be proactively communicating such commitments to corporate social responsibility as loud as possible.
Because, we are going to ask.
The truth is, we aren’t looking for par. Every one of us wants to work for Google or a similar company that has truly dedicated the way they do business to what is right for their employees, the planet and our society.
We want our employers to give us money for wanting a hybrid car. To promote our personal commitments to development of the third world. To give us time off to volunteer in our communities.
No, “want” isn’t strong enough. We demand it.
Our lives and culture are a little different than yours. We’re the generation of school shootings, corporate greed, war and 9/11. So, we recognize life is short, and there are parts of our society that are broken. We intend to fix them.
We want to work for progressive companies that are going to help us change the world. Even more so, we want to feel that our employer isn’t doing anything to detract from the things we hold so dear.
Remember, most of us grew up watching MTV’s coverage of famine and AIDS relief concerts, and nightly news coverage of the Big Tobacco hearings and the Exxon Valdez disaster. We were taught to constantly look for the corporate predators and dinosaurs that see progress as a four-letter word, and to avoid them.
But that isn’t to say that small business has a free pass. There is a good chance that before we learned how to use the company copier we have researched how much carbon is produced to run it. We’ve asked around where all of the employees in the company live and are going to encourage a carpool system. And, there better not be any Styrofoam cups next to the water cooler.
So, here we are. Ready to work. Hope you are ready for us.
