The Lattice Group is a 501(c)3 non-profit that conducts research and sparks dialogue about work-life issues from a Gen Y perspective. Our goal is to create a discussion so that young people will consider the issues of work-life conflicts in their own lives and communities and begin to think actively, and creatively, about alternatives to the “ladder” status quo.

The traditional “corporate ladder” entails a straight upward climb. If you don’t ascend, you stagnate or descend. We think this metaphor is outdated. Instead, our goal is to promote lattice rather than ladder caeers. A latticework weaves in all directions. This means that you can keep climbing the lattice without having to go up on a pre-determined track: climb up, climb right, climb left, but always keep climbing. It means a more flexible career progression.

To achieve a Lattice Lifestyle–and thereby ensure healthier and more sustainable work and family lives–we are going to need institutional support. Flexibility is great for both employers and employees, but employees can’t be left to shoulder all the risk of flexibility themselves. We need some basics: universal health care that is not tied to one employer, unemployment schemes for independent workers, national laws guaranteeing paid parental leave, and free public child care would be a great place to start.

The Lattice Group website offers information about the realities of the current workplace (did you know that the U.S. is one of only four countries in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid parental leave?), blogs, interviews with professionals who made it work, essays, videos, and resources to help you start a dialogue with your friends and community.

We believe these are issues that affect all Gen Y:ers. Thankfully, they’re also issues that can be addressed by taking a proactive stance early on.