Yes – the sandwich generation can and should work in social enterprises
On the social enterprise blog for the Guardian newspaper, I came across an interesting post by Nick Temple, discussing whether or not the “sandwich” generation, (those caught between looking after elderly parents, and children) can and/or should work in social enterprise, due to their need for financial stability which would allow them to care for their families. The theory is that social enterprise does not work for this group because it doesn’t earn you enough money, and when you leave there is no big payoff. However, the blogger proposes that there is no reason why social entrepreneurs shouldn’t pay themselves an above average wage along market rates, in order to allow for them to continue in this line of business and not have them pull away into mainstream entrepreneurship. I agree with this statement, because even though involvement in social entrepreneurship should be driven by motivation towards a social mission, and not financial gain, you need to provide compensation (at a comfortable level) in order to have these individuals continue to contribute to improving the society we live in.