Kids These Days

I remember feeling pretty lucky when I landed my first job out of vet school. The salary was $32,000 per year at a time when the average starting salary was close to the $30,000 range. The benefits were typical and the hours were what you expected: long days, with only one day off during the week and full days every third Saturday. Plus, we were expected to be on-call one night per week and one full weekend (Friday night until Monday morning) every month. There were 6 recognized holidays per year and you were expected to be on-call for at least one of them. Forget the day after a holiday - those were just regular workdays.

In the past several years, I've spoken to a couple of practice owners I know who have had trouble hiring young associates. A common complaint has been the outrageous expectations that these young prospective employees have: no nights, no weekends, no on-call, and a desired salary of 70K+ just out of school. What happened in between the time I graduated and now?

I don't think the veterinary world is alone in this phenomenon. It seems to be more of a generational issue. What people once considered luxuries are looked at by the under-30 crowd as givens, or, a term I find particularly annoying, "must-haves." Case-in-point: a close relative of mine who is 24 complained to me about her expenses. She claimed they were so high that she couldn't afford to pay her rent. Upon further investigation, I found out that her cell phone bill exceeded $200 per month! When I tried to point out that perhaps this was one area where she could save considerable money, she looked at me like I had 2 heads. I guess having a cell phone and using it indiscriminately is one of those "must-haves."

Entitlement is something I struggle to understand without being too critical. I can't believe I already sound like an old fogey at 41, but I find myself saying and thinking the same things I'm sure were said about me and my own generation not all that long ago. When I began practicing veterinary medicine, I expected at least 2 weeks of vacation time per year, but there were plenty of practices offering only 1 week (and there probably still are). I realize that times change and so do peoples' needs. But I still can't help wondering whether we're all turning into a bunch of softies sometimes.

It reminds me of the banter my husband and father-in-law indulge in:

"When I was a lad, I had to walk 5 miles to school every morning."

"Well, I had to walk 5 miles in the snow, uphill, in shoes 2 sizes too small!"

"Shoes??!! You had shoes......??!!"