Are Schools Losing the Younger Generation of SLPs?
Is there a millennial exodus from jobs in the education sector?
Maybe yes and maybe for good reason. Colleagues and I were recently studying generational differences in attitudes toward employment. Studies show that whereas older generations saw jobs as almost lifelong commitments, younger professionals entered the workforce already planning not to stay in any one job more than a few years, thinking of jobs more so as stepping stones to career fulfillment rather than the bedrock of their financial security.
It seems recently, public schools have a revolving door of young professionals. One enters and leaves only to be replaced by another who will likely leave soon too. Smart, educated, and talented young people are entering education fields, seeing the stress and chaos, and getting out while the getting is good.
The questions then are two-fold: A) Is this mass departure from school jobs a real phenomenon across the country in the 18-35 year old set? B) Do the millennials have the right idea on this one?
Teach others how to treat us correctly by leaving the situation when it ceases to be mutually respectful or hinders professional growth within our field.
Maybe the older crowd has just lingered too long, accepted substandard conditions for longer than they should have, and now are stuck out of a sense of obligation to students and parents over self, and financial planning for family and retirement.
Considering that many young professionals are so far removed from those worries, perhaps that climbing out of school system is actually a way of climbing through a window of opportunity for these young folks individually and for our entire field as a whole. If the new generation can show the school administrators that we won't stick around for poor treatment when there are perfectly good hospital, clinical, and home health jobs waiting for us, perhaps schools will eventually change their ways or be forced to deal with us SLPs on our own terms as independent contractors.
We have choices. By going along to get along so as not to make waves or ruffle feathers, we too often run the risk of compromising our clinical training and professional integrity. Perhaps, it's time to look to the young SLPs for lessons on how to get out of our too-often toxic relationship with schools, and do what's right for ourselves, our profession, and the children and families we serve. I'm reminded of the wisdom often given to couples who are trying to stick it out for the kids, that it's worse to stay together and expose the children to a relationship that isn't right than to get out and be healthy and happy apart.
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