No Adults Left Behind
The objective of this article is to address and present alternative solutions to the stresses that many adults undergo in the hunt for satisfaction in the workforce.
With a world average life expectancy measured at 72.6 years, our adult years outlast the developmental years that predate 'adulthood'. Consequently, the majority of our years are lived at an age where we are responsible for ourselves.
Many adults enter the work force at an early age (directly after high school, or secondary school) and forego the option of higher education. In the short term, say five years or less, this isn't a bad strategy because strategies for financial growth can be different and at the same time, rewarding.
However, after years pass, blocked in a job with a low wage "ceiling" and sustaining routines of eat, sleep, work, and over again can become difficult and result in minimal satisfaction. Is this a dilemma of 'surviving' versus 'living'?
While natural inflation is increasing the minimum wage, at the same time, the market costs of basic products also increases. Mass production does create
a decrease in production costs, but also a decrease in product quality. The direct result of this - higher quality items automatically being higher in cost.
The push and pull balance of economics.
When low quality necessities such as food, housing, transportation, and healthcare become an afforded "norm", this leads to dissatisfaction and depression because adults feel as if they cannot provide for them and their families based on what is marketed towards them.
In a large sense, adults feel left behind in an ever-advancing society because they are not being empowered to learn new skills and concepts coherent with advancing technologies and methods.
Solutions?
Employers empowering employees. Business owners taking action, encouraging, and training employees to raise employee value. Paying respective increasing amounts parallel to training completion, new licenses, and certifications achieved above basic market costs and basic market inflation.
Adult employees, be proactive and seek opportunities to add employee value.
Once employee salary has increased, even by small margins, satisfaction increases. Doors open to explore other opportunities and employee health, satisfaction, and output are positively affected. Adult employees and employers alike must see beyond wage "ceilings". For adult employees, investing in higher education is a sacrifice, however it takes a strategical and calculated leap of faith to believe that pursuing a higher educational degree will amortize itself over time, leading to healthier approaches towards work.
Taking risks on adult employees and investing in their value-added growth may pose up-front costs. However, over time, loyalty, production, and overall satisfaction will increase.
When adults in the workforce become depressed, this has enormous self-satisfaction, familial, and even economic repercussions. Acknowledgement of this real issue supports the demand for appropriate action.
Adults who feel left behind, be encouraged. You are not alone.
Seek opportunities.
