YOLO | the emerging trend

If 2020-21 was a year of grieving over deaths and dealing with sickness, 2022-23 has been about bouncing back. Something strange has happened to the workforce post the pandemic.

The dread and anxiety of the past years have given way to a new kind of professional mindset where employees across the world are increasingly evaluating – “if the life we’re living is the one we want to be living,”. Especially for younger people who have been told to work hard, pay off your loans and someday you’ll get to enjoy your life, a lot of them are questioning that equation. What if they want to be happy right now?”. “For many, this has been a time to introspect, “we’ve been so locked into careers for all our lives, and this is our opportunity to switch it up”.

“The idea of going right back to the pre-Covid setup is no longer appealing with candidates withdrawing interest in accepting offers that do not offer flexible and hybrid working. “If not now, when will I ever do this?

If this movement has a rallying cry, it’s “YOLO” — “you only live once,”.

This mindset has made its way across the globe, predominantly in the technology, financial sector and start-up space. Gen Z has fearlessly blended into this attitude as a way of life and entitlement. There is a shift in consumer lifestyle pattern from pursuing owning of assets to Co-commute, Co-work and Co-live. Companies who are quick to realise this transition are in process of re-designing their workplace as a fueling station for driving camaraderie, engagement and bonding as against conventional full day work desks.

What has been your observations about the YOLO trend?

In what segment of employees are you noticing this more?

How is your organisation planning to tackle it?

(let’s hear thoughts of our members on this)

– Rajesh Manik Sarkar