Since the movie The Bucket List – I’ve heard more and more people exclaim that something is on their bucket list.  Well I’m not waiting for retirement.  I’m making my list now and I’m checking it twice and early and often as the opportunity arises.

My thoughts on work are not to work really, really hard, almost exclusively, then get older, slow down and take time off.  I tend to think work is an ebb and flow.  Sometimes it’s busy…sometimes it’s not and sometimes maybe you’re even on the pavement.  I like to take advantage of the slow times and appreciate them, yes, appreciate them.  Hey the first time I got laid off – at the young old age of 31 – I did cartwheels down the TV station’s hallway.  After all our last day was to be the Friday before Memorial Day and suddenly I found myself with a summer free from the office and finally some closure on a process that had been festering for far too long in that workplace.  It was a positive experience and I’m sure you’ll think I’m odd but that’s now how I view work stoppages…as opportunities, although I’m apparently not alone.  Without work there is time…time to read more, to check out that restaurant at lunch that costs a fortune for dinner, to take my bike on the MBTA and ride to far flung beaches.   I could rehash my economic philosophy that allows for my carefree ways during work stoppages, but you can simply read it yourself.

So this summer as my economic policy takes over my work portion of life needs to have a temporary slow down.  You see come September I will not need full-time childcare.  My little one will be in school almost all day and my frugal ways will preclude me from paying someone full-time when I only need them a very limited amount…if at all.  So I embarked on a journey to find my nanny a part-time gig – so I could also keep her part-time.  And it worked better than I had hoped.  She’s happily starting with another family 3-days a week next week.  Which suddenly leaves me without childcare 23 hours a week that I had counted on previously.

It shouldn’t affect work too much…as I am able to work where, when & how I want.  But I will need to shift my thinking.  Some days now, I will work more post bed-time and less during the day.  And the luxury of running errands alone without a little one in tow will now to be a fond memory of my past.

Since this is wonderful, unexpected found time it’s time to make a list.  A list of what I want to experience with my little one over the last 6 weeks of summer.  The last summer we have between when babyhood officially ends and being a full-fledged school-age kid begins.  And a list of what she wants to experience with mommy.  And to check items off one by one…or to maybe just relish in the fact that we don’t have to do anything or go anywhere some days.  Just enjoy each other and our surroundings.

• There is a recession on and they didn’t plan for a rainy day, or they did and that rainy day lasted a really long time
• They have a family member: parent, child, spouse, sibling that they need to and want to care for
• They have just left college and there are no jobs out there that they are qualified for…but at the same time, they are too qualified to simply answer the phone
• They have relocated due to their spouse’s job and can find no jobs in their field
• They are older and therefore going to be retiring at some point, so it’s just easier for workplaces to prevent the pain of having to replace them at a bad time for the company and instead eliminate their position and hire someone with more updated skills and train them

So in other words if you’re young, if you’re older, if you’re middle aged, if you’re a child of someone, if you’re a parent of someone, if you’re married or have a significant other you will find yourself in this conundrum.  Even if you work in HR…you will find yourself in this conundrum.  So we can look at surveys and we can make snap judgments and we can do what is always done, discriminate against these people in the workplace…or we could use more common sense than that.

Employers:

So you want to hire people who are engaged and who are going to stay with your company and you don’t believe the “under”employed fit into this model.  I would suggest trying these steps (as one who has been underemployed very happily, and also very crankily)

1) We’re all adults – yes that’s right your employees are adults…please treat them as such.  If they are over qualified it is quite possible they will do the work faster than others may.  Don’t punish them for this.  You have hired them for a job…not to fill a chair.  If they can do that job in 30 hours instead of 40…great!  Then they have more time to exercise, be with family, run errands, live life.  They will be happy, you will have your goals met…it’s a win/win.  But if you stand over their chair at work, log their hours mentally, get annoyed by their Facebook usage and other silly details, you will lose.

2) Pay for the skills you use.  How great, they have more skills that you can utilize as the company needs.  But you know what?  You’ve entered into a business arrangement with them to accomplish tasks that require specific skills.  If you’d like to use more of skills than you asked for previously, it’s time to amend the business arrangement and compensate them accordingly.

3) Communicate openly and honestly.  It’s okay to be concerned about an overqualified employee.  But it’s not okay not to talk to them about it and get more information.  So put it on the table – at the interview stage, once hired, and on a regular basis.  This isn’t a secret.  They are overqualified.  It should be discussed in a productive, adult way.  Find out if they are unhappy…and if so why.  See if it is something that can be fixed.   Of course, there is a chance it can’t be fixed…but there is also a chance it can.

Understand that at any point in time…part of your workforce is most likely considered “under”employed.  You can either fix it…or you can ignore it and hope it goes away.

Employees:

You may be smiling after that…but now it’s your turn.  You may not be smiling soon…

1)  You are an adult.  Yep, you are.  If you are given a task to do and it is “beneath” your capabilities…oh well,  you are in that situation for a reason.  It is a choice.  You can be an adult and do your work well and on-time and celebrate the extra time you have to live life.  Or you can fill a chair, complain to co-workers and family, and become disgruntled…your choice

2) Understand what you’re selling.  You may be asked to do more, give more to your employer as you are more qualified than for the job you are doing.  But think hard about how much you’re willing to give them extra…and whether you want to give it for free or not.  Employment is a business arrangement.  If you don’t like the arrangement you have it is up to you to take some responsibility for that and either re-negotiate or say “no.”

3) Communicate open and honestly.  So you have more skills than your employer needs.  Talk about it.  Why is that?  Why are you making the choice you are making?  What do you see as the challenges and rewards to this arrangement?  And check in regularly if things aren’t working quite right.  Do not suffer in silence…or everyone loses

Understand that you will find yourself in this position more than once in your career.  The responsibility is on you to manage it well.

This isn’t rocket science people…it’s life…it shouldn’t be this hard to live it happily!

Yes, I’d like to do it right now.  But tilting at windmills doesn’t work.   There needs to be a groundswell.  Then it needs to become focused and then things will change.  Articles like this and many conversations I’ve had tell me there already is a groundswell.  I’m hoping this blog can help focus the conversation and begin to change corporate America.

So what do I think about the conflict facing this Gen Yer?  I think it sucks.  I hate bait and switch in the HR world and it should not be tolerated.  My 40-something self would walk.   But I already have a resume and some savings.   Many 20-somethings do not.

So now the question becomes what would my 20-something self do?

I would not worry about my marriage.  That’s just a fact, it’s not a statement that my marriage is a fairy tale, it’s not.  There are many bumps in that road.  I just happen to know that this would not be the one to derail us.

I would stick it out until my 1-year anniversary with the company.  I’ve said that a resume doesn’t need to be a straight line up.  And I mean that.  But it also can’t be a series of short dashes.   And while sticking it out I would take some steps to get myself ready for whatever may come next:

Stay Healthy – I heard on NPR yesterday that one wealth manager, John Spooner, was practically mandating his employees to exercise. Exercise helps with stress and clarity.  Perhaps your marriage isn’t as strained as you fear, perhaps sticking with the job temporarily is doable.  I know this sounds laughable with the commute and the work schedule.  But head outside for a short walk – 20 minutes a couple of days a week may do wonders for you.

Try HR – Don’t be disgruntled and emotional – but state the facts of your concerns and ask for their help.   This is what they do for a living.

Find a Reference – Your reference for a future job does not have to be your immediate supervisor.  It can be someone who worked with you or helped supervise you on a specific project that can speak to your skills.

Investigate What’s Next – Are there more layoffs coming?  Is there any way (very discreetly) to position you to be laid off?

Listen to Others – If you’re on twitter, ask for advice.  There are lots of recruiters that hang out there.  Also, search the Internet for interesting blogs and articles on career advice that resonate with you.  This one is by no means the only one or the best one.  I read Penelope Trunk often and she really knows Gen Y. I’m sure she would also have a very strong opinion on this subject.

Network – Online or face-to-face. Once you’ve listened, start talking.  Again don’t be disgruntled and emotional.  But state what you’re looking for and how someone can help you.  You may be surprised to learn how many people are willing to help.

Check out the Temp. Market – In a bad economy that is usually the place to find work.  But this downturn is pretty extreme and it may not be a viable alternative.

Try to Breathe – This will pass and you will look back later and wonder what all the fuss was about.  (Says the old lady.)  But it really is true.  The shame is that you never realize it until much later in life. I’m sure at 20-something I was hyperventilating over these types of issues, too.

That’s my two, ten, twenty-five cents.  Now I’m throwing it out to the community.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Either comment here or on the original blog post. This woman’s looking for advice…let’s give her some.