Youth are looking for meaning in work

On a flight to Atlanta today I was glad to be seated next to a young chemical engineer who works for a petroleum company. She likes the company and they treat her well but she doesn’t want to spend her career there. Why? Because she wants to be part of a company that is creating the future and “good for the planet.” She also talked about a previous employer, a “big pharma” company where morale was perpetually low in spite of the big money being thrown around. Gen Y has a lot of idealists who want to make a difference with their lives. Employers need to keep this in mind and make sure that work is meaningful and contributes to public good.